Tales from the Crib: Un Ojo Un Ojo’s life changed forever one winter night in Kentucky, prompting his name – “one eye” in Spanish. Early in 2020, a severe storm ripped through Cypress Creek Equine’s farm near Midway, when the yearlings were out in the paddock. The future Rebel (G2)… Mar 17, 2022
Takeaways from 2022 Tampa Bay Derby The second of two qualifiers at Tampa Bay Downs, the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) awarded 85 points (50-20-10-5 scale) toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 7. Back-to-back convincing wins Classic Causeway sprinted clear at the break and rolled unopposed… Mar 16, 2022
Nine pedigree fun facts: Un Ojo You might imagine that a one-eyed gelding who pulled a 75-1 upset in a major race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby wouldn’t have much of a pedigree. But Un Ojo, the surprise package in the $1 million Rebel (G2), has fine bloodlines all around. Here are… Mar 14, 2022
Star filly Secret Oath adds luster to Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park’s Road to the Kentucky Derby has lacked a standout this season, but the Hot Springs trail will heat up with star filly Secret Oath taking on the boys in the Apr. 2 Arkansas Derby (G1). Trainer D. Wayne Lukas gave fellow Hall of Famer Gary Stevens… Mar 13, 2022
Classic Causeway rolls in Tampa Bay Derby Classic Causeway continued to burnish his Kentucky Derby credentials in Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), dominating the Championship Series qualifier on the lead. Irad Ortiz Jr. was up on the odds-on favorite, who has now recorded two straight convincing… Mar 12, 2022
Tales from the Crib: Classic Causeway Classic Causeway was always going to be a sentimental rooting interest in the Kentucky Derby (G1), as one of only three registered foals bequeathed by the “Iron Horse” Giant’s Causeway in his final crop. But the blaze-faced chestnut has the added appeal of… Mar 11, 2022
Study Guide: 2022 Tampa Bay Derby The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), a lucrative qualifier worth 50-20-10-5 points to the top four finishers. Mar 10, 2022
Expert Pick of the Week: 2022 Tampa Bay Derby A full field of 12 three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the dirt in Saturday's $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series test will reward the first four to cross the wire with qualifying points on a 50-20-1-5… Mar 10, 2022
Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series Heads to Tampa Bay Downs The Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series will make its final stop at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday where Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s two-time winner Classic Causeway tops a field of 12 3-year-olds that entered the 42nd running of the $400,000… Mar 10, 2022
Nine pedigree fun facts: Simplification Simplification became the second major winner on the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby for hot young sire Not This Time, after Epicenter. The two exciting contenders have even more in common, however, than their sire. Both Simplification and Epicenter are… Mar 10, 2022
Three Takeaways from 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes The Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park will guarantee the winner a spot in the Run for the Roses, awarding a 50-point prize as a Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier, and Simplification continued his rise in the three-year-old ranks with a convincing… Mar 10, 2022
Classic Causeway tops dozen in Tampa Bay Derby Classic Causeway, an impressive track-and-distance winner of the Sam F. Davis (G3) last month, will attempt to achieve an increasingly rare double on Saturday by also winning the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs. The 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay… Mar 9, 2022