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Kentucky Derby News

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European Road: Capulet favored in Royal Lodge

Saturday’s Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket features a son of unbeaten 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, Capulet, who ranks as the early favorite for trainer Aidan O’Brien. But Godolphin’s Aablan has an American classic connection too, as a grandson of 2007…

Sep 28, 2023

Americanrevolution winning the 2021 Cigar Mile (Photo by Janet Garaguso/Coglianese Photography)
Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Lukas Classic

A strong field of nine will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill Downs dirt in Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2). Grade 1 victor Americanrevolution draws outside in the contest for conditioner Todd Pletcher and looms large as the second choice on the morning…

Sep 28, 2023

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Deepone opens European Road with front-running victory in Beresford

Vimal Khosla’s Deepone benefited from a change in tactics to capture Saturday’s Beresford (G2) at the Curragh, the first scoring race on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Paddy Twomey was resolved to employ a more forward running style after…

Sep 23, 2023

Aidan O'Brien won his 12th trophy as Royal Ascot's leading trainer in 2023 (Photo by Megan Ridgwell)
European Road: O’Brien has half of field in Beresford

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby begins in Ireland, with Saturday’s Beresford (G2) at the Curragh. Training genius Aidan O’Brien has won the Beresford an incredible 21 times, and the master of Ballydoyle has half of the six-horse field entered in search…

Sep 21, 2023


Kentucky Derby 149
Win Place Show
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OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH’s Mage rallied off a ferocious early pace to win Saturday’s 149th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1). The 15-1 shot gave trainer/co-owner Gustavo Delgado and Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano their first Derby win.
Derby Updates
West Saratoga wins Iroquois (Photo by Coady Photography)
Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: West Saratoga

Harry Veruchi’s West Saratoga picked up 10 points on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby following his 1 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16. The winner clocked one mile on the fast main surface in 1:37.28 with…

Sep 21, 2023

2023 Iroquois Stakes winner West Saratoga (Photo by COADY Photography)
Inside the Kentucky Derby Podcast: Iroquois Stakes Recap

The Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby is underway with the Iroquois Stakes being the first to stop. An $11,000 yearling, West Saratoga takes home the 10 points for trainer, Larry Demaritte and jockey, Rafael Bejarano. Darren and KK discuss West Saratoga’s connections,…

Sep 18, 2023

West Saratoga upsets Iroquois (Photo by Coady Photography)
West Saratoga wins Iroquois, earns first 10 points on Road to Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023) – Harry L. Veruchi’s West Saratoga is the early points leader on the 2024 “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” after the Exaggerator colt won Saturday’s 42nd running of the $300,000 Iroquois (G3)…

Sep 17, 2023

V V's Dream before the Pocahontas (Photo by Coady Photography)
V V’s Dream posts powerful 8 3/4-length win in Pocahontas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023) – V V’s Dream, owned by Michael J. Mackin’s MJM Racing, sat just off pacesetters Hot Beach and Youalmosthadme in the early stages of the race before easily running past those foes down the stretch to win Saturday’s…

Sep 17, 2023

Patriot Spirit wins on debut at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Pedigree fun facts: 2023 Iroquois Stakes

Fittingly for the first scoring race on the Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby, Saturday’s $300,000 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs showcases contenders with Triple Crown trail-themed pedigrees.Morning line favorite Risk It is by Gun Runner, the third-placer…

Sep 15, 2023

2022 Iroquois Stakes winner Curly Jack (Photo by COADY Photography)
Inside the Kentucky Derby Podcast: Iroquois Stakes Preview

The Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby is here! Darren and KK discuss the Road to the Kentucky Derby beginning with the Iroquois at Churchill Downs. They tell you what to look for and give their expert opinions on the first points race. Inside the Kentucky…

Sep 14, 2023

Risk It (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
A win bet and exotic bet for the 2023 Iroquois S.

A total of 21 qualifying points are on the line in Saturday’s $300,000 Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The one-mile contest for juveniles attracted a really nice field of nine two-year-old prospects in the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge…

Sep 13, 2023

Curly Jack winning the 2022 Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Study Guide: 2023 Iroquois Stakes

The 2023-24 Road to the Kentucky Derby gets underway this Saturday with the running of the $300,000 Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The one-mile contest awards Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers.

Sep 13, 2023

Risk It stylishly wins his career debut at Saratoga (photo by Adam Coglianese/Coglianese Photography)
Iroquois kicks offs Road to Kentucky Derby 150

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Road to Kentucky Derby 150 will begin Saturday at Churchill Downs where Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm’s impressive maiden special weight winner Risk It headlines a field of nine two-year-olds that entered the 42nd…

Sep 12, 2023

Locked breaks his maiden in a romp at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Top 12 contenders to watch on 2024 Kentucky Derby trail

The Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby officially begins with Saturday’s Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs, the historic home of the Run for the Roses. That means it’s time to collect prospects to follow! Promising two-year-olds have already started to emerge…

Sep 11, 2023

Rich Strike upsetting the 2022 Kentucky Derby (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Ultimate Road to the Kentucky Derby Racing Guide

Road to the Kentucky Derby Ultimate Racing Guide for the 150th Kentucky Derby Finding a horse to follow on the Road to the Kentucky Derby could be overwhelming for some. With typically over 21,000 Thoroughbreds hoping to earn their way into the top 20 contenders…

Sep 10, 2023

Red Knight wins the Man o' War Stakes (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes

An overflow field of 16 will travel 1 1/2 miles on the Kentucky Downs lawn in Saturday’s lucrative $1.7 million Kentucky Turf Cup S. (G2). The finale on a major day of racing attracted a well-matched field in what seems like an incredibly challenging handicapping…

Sep 6, 2023

Tales from the Crib
Follow the Road to the Roses all the way back to the barn, with Kellie Reilly
Lord Miles as a foal with Lady Esme (Photo by Hartwell Farm)
Tales from the Crib: Lord Miles

As a homebred for Peter Vegso, best known as the publisher who launched the inspirational Chicken Soup for the Soul books, Lord Miles ought to have a heartwarming story. And he does!  His ancestress in the direct female line was born with no eyes; yet with…

Apr 30, 2023

Angel of Empire as a newborn (Photo by Brianna Clark)
Tales from the Crib: Angel of Empire

It’s fitting that Black Diamond Equine Corp. is listed as co-breeder of Angel of Empire, since the colt started out as a diamond in the rough in Pennsylvania coal country. Failing to sell as a Keeneland weanling, yet hinting of potential, he has now matured…

Apr 28, 2023

Derma Sotogake as a foal (Photo by Shadai Farm)
Tales from the Crib: Derma Sotogake

With special thanks to Shadai Farm's Tsubasa Sato for obtaining comments and photosThe powerhouse of Shadai recently won the first jewel of Japan’s Triple Crown with exciting homebred Sol Oriens, an unbeaten colt who has all the qualities to complete the classic…

Apr 24, 2023

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Pedigree Fun Facts
Patriot Spirit wins on debut at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Pedigree fun facts: 2023 Iroquois Stakes

Fittingly for the first scoring race on the Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby, Saturday’s $300,000 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs showcases contenders with Triple Crown trail-themed pedigrees.Morning line favorite Risk It is by Gun Runner, the third-placer…

Sep 15, 2023

Arcangelo wins the Belmont (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Pedigree fun facts: 2023 Travers Stakes

Saturday’s Travers (G1) is a veritable summit of leading three-year-olds, pitting last year’s champion juvenile Forte against the winners of the three Triple Crown races – Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mage, Preakness (G1) scorer National Treasure, and Belmont (G1)…

Aug 25, 2023

Arcangelo working for the 2023 Belmont (Photo by Susie Raisher)
Pedigree fun facts: 2023 Belmont Stakes

Supersire Tapit, currently tied with the legendary 19th-century stallion Lexington as the sire of four Belmont (G1) winners, will try to break the record with a fifth on Saturday. Tapit has two sons in the 1 1/2-mile classic, as you can guess from their names…

Jun 8, 2023

Curlin edges Street Sense in the 2007 Preakness (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Pedigree fun facts: 2023 Preakness Stakes

Hall of Famer Curlin, the 2007 Preakness (G1) winner, has a total of four grandsons – half the field – in Saturday’s 148th running at Pimlico. Curlin’s champion son Good Magic is single-handedly responsible for three of them, led by Kentucky Derby (G1) hero…

May 18, 2023

Mage wears the garland of roses after the 2023 Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Photography)
2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage’s pedigree fun facts

Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mage is from the first crop of champion Good Magic, who was second to Justify in the 2018 Run for the Roses. And that’s just the beginning of his Derby-themed pedigree. Good Magic’s sire, Hall of Famer Curlin, and maternal grandsire,…

May 8, 2023

Justify wins the 2018 Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Photography)
Pedigree fun facts: 2023 Kentucky Derby

Triple Crown champion Justify leads a posse of Kentucky Derby (G1) veterans with offspring in Saturday’s 149th Run for the Roses. Adding to the intrigue, some of those past Derby rivalries will be renewed by the next generation.Sons of Kentucky Derby veteransJustify…

May 3, 2023

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Kentucky Oaks 149
Win Place Show
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Godolphin’s homebred Pretty Mischievous took charge at the top of the stretch and held off the late surge from Gambling Girl to prevail in Friday’s 149th Kentucky Oaks (G1). Trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the 10-1 chance finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.77 and paid $22.74.