Kentucky Derby News

Apr 4, 2018

First Featured Milliner In Iconic Event’s HistoryLOUISVILLE, Ky., April 4, 2018 – Churchill Downs Racetrack today announced that Christine Moore is the featured milliner of the 144th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. This is the first time in…

Apr 3, 2018

Good Magic came up short when opening 2018 in the March 3 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, checking in an even third as the 3-5 favorite, but the champion 2-year-old male will look to make amends and reestablish himself as a major Kentucky Derby contender…

Apr 3, 2018

A tightly-grouped foursome headed by Ruis Racing LLC’s San Felipe (GII) winner Bolt d’Oro (#2, 5-1) sits atop the morning line odds for the 24 wagering interests set for this weekend’s fourth and final pool of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager…

Apr 2, 2018

When Churchill Downs officials announced last August the creation of a “European Road to the Kentucky Derby,” the opening of another avenue was simultaneously adventurous and uncertain. What kind of horse might ultimately score the most points in the seven-race…

Mar 31, 2018

With an impressive three-length victory, Audible looked the part of a serious Kentucky Derby contender in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt extended his win streak to four and John Velazquez was up for owners…

Mar 31, 2018

In one of the most lopsided performances in a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep in years, Mendelssohn punched his ticket to the May 5 Run for the Roses with an emphatic 18-length demolition of his rivals in the U.A.E. Derby (G2) Saturday night at Meydan. The…

Mar 31, 2018

Coach Rocks earned the majority of the 100-40-20-10 points up for grabs when rallying to catch Take Charge Paula in Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The Oxbow filly raced in midpack as near 5-2 favorite Take Charge Paula took over from…

Mar 30, 2018

The equine Gronkowski concluded his successful "playoff" run toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) on Friday, capturing the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle, England, and securing an invitation to the Run for the Roses as the leading point earner in the European…

Mar 30, 2018

When Promises Fulfilled upset the Fountain of Youth (G2) at odds of 18-1, it wasn’t the first time he was cast in the role of underdog – or rewarded those who believed in him. A sick newborn and a bargain yearling, he’s come a long way to emerge as a Kentucky…

Mar 29, 2018

Mubtaahij established the current time record for the race when going about 1 3/16 miles in 1:58.35 on March 28, 2015; it is, however, not the fastest running of the race, just the quickest since Meydan switched to dirt that same year. The fastest UAE Derby…

Mar 29, 2018

Forward Gal Stakes (G3) winner Take Charge Paula lines up in Saturday’s $300,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) against 12 rivals in search of enough points to solidify her spot in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) starting gate on May 4 at Churchill Downs. The Gulfstream…

Mar 29, 2018

Saturday’s 67th running of the $1 million Florida Derby (GI) at Gulfstream Park and the 19th running of the $2 million UAE Derby (GII) in Dubai highlight this week’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series as 3-year-old Thoroughbreds continue their quest…

Mar 28, 2018

Audible drew rave reviews for a convincing Holy Bull (G2) victory earlier in the Gulfstream Park meet but has been perhaps a bit of a forgotten horse as 12 qualifiers in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series have been offered in the eight-week interim since his…

Mar 28, 2018

A dozen three-year-olds went to post in Saturday’s Sunland Derby (G3), but it was one horse who was all the rage following the $800,000 feature.

Mar 28, 2018

Gronkowski seeks to firm up a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) field on Friday in the Burradon Stakes, at Newcastle, England, the final prep in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Currently second on that series leaderboard behind Mendelssohn,…

Mar 28, 2018

Inspired by the Rich, Smooth Flavor of Woodford Reserve® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 28, 2018 – Churchill Downs Racetrack today announced the official menu of the 144 th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Curated…

Mar 27, 2018

1. First run at Gulfstream Park in 1952, the Florida Derby (G1) has been won 15 times by the eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. It has been an especially fruitful prep the last five years, with three colts pulling off the Florida/Kentucky Derby…

Mar 26, 2018

Saturday’s $2 million UAE Derby (G2) promises to be one for the ages. Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner, puts his Kentucky Derby (G1) ambitions on the line in this first dirt test. Godolphin’s Gold Town, invincible…

Mar 26, 2018

Several colts punched their tickets to the Kentucky Derby (G1) this past weekend, including TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Noble Indy (#1, 110 points) and Sunland Derby (G3) hero Runaway Ghost (#7, 50), a recent Late Triple Crown nominee. Third…

Mar 25, 2018

Shippers came in droves from California, Florida, and Arkansas in hopes of plundering Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3), but it was the lone locally based runner, Runaway Ghost, who scored one for the home team – and netted a Kentucky Derby (G1) spot…

Mar 25, 2018

Not one filly in Sunday’s $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, which is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points contests, was nominated to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.That didn’t stop Cleber J. Massey’s Blamed for making her case to be a…

Mar 24, 2018

One week after teaming up to win the Rebel (G2) with Magnum Moon, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez qualified another colt for the Kentucky Derby (G1), Noble Indy, in Saturday's $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. Owned…

Mar 24, 2018

Double Doors Racing LLC’s Chocolate Martini made her stakes debut on Saturday in the $392,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) under jockey Mitchell Murrill and pulled off the 13-1 upset of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series points contest. The Fair Grounds Oaks…

Mar 24, 2018

Noble Indy began his racing career in December, but he has already left his mark on this Kentucky Derby prep season. WinStar Farm homebred comes off his biggest triumph to date when bagging the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds in just his fourth lifetime start.

Mar 23, 2018

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues on Saturday and Sunday with a pair of contests offering points toward a starting berth in the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. First up on Saturday is the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, which is the first…

Mar 23, 2018

It gets serious for Kentucky Derby prospects over the next four weekends as the final round of major prep races begins Saturday with the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. Worth a combined 170 points (100-40-20-10 scale) toward…

Mar 23, 2018

A field of 12 sophomores will go nine furlongs in Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Derby (G2) at Sunland Park in an effort to earn enough points to make the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 5 at Churchill Downs. The Sunland Derby is worth 50-20-10-5…

Mar 22, 2018

Saturday’s 105th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com (Grade II) and Sunday’s 15th running of the $800,000 Sunland Derby (GIII) are the featured stops on this week’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series as 3-year-old Thoroughbreds…

Mar 21, 2018

John C. Oxley’s Flameaway, the winner of Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis (Grade III), leads a group of 10 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that were made eligible to compete in the 2018 Triple Crown with a late $6,000 payment that was due Monday.

Mar 20, 2018

1. Inaugurated in 1894, the Louisiana Derby was held at two other New Orleans locations -- Crescent City Race Course and Jefferson Park -- before settling at Fair Grounds in 1932. It has been held every year since except from 1940-42, 1945, and 2006.…

Mar 20, 2018

The Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) was run at Turfway Park on Saturday. Formerly sponsored by Jim Beam, Galleryfurniture.com, Lane's End, Vinery Stables, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and JACK Cincinnati Casino, the race formerly known as the Spiral Stakes was run at…

Mar 20, 2018

Magnum Moon (#5, 50) took another step toward the goal of becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) without having raced as a juvenile last Saturday with an authoritative victory over Solomini (#9, 34) in the Rebel…

Mar 19, 2018

Thunder Gulch, who captured the 1995 Kentucky Derby (G1) as a 24-1 longshot over two favored stablemates and later won the Belmont Stakes (G1) en route to champion three-year-old honors, has been euthanized at the age of 26. Coolmore America, who stood…

Mar 18, 2018

Hailing from the storied farm that’s produced the most Kentucky Derby (G1) winners, and trained by a Hall of Famer with four Derby trophies, Bravazo is heir to quite an historical legacy. Calumet Farm stands alone in the Derby record book as the owner…

Mar 17, 2018

A week after counterparts starred on the West Coast, Magnum Moon looked special trying a Kentucky Derby qualifier in Saturday’s $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt registered his third straight convincing victory from…

Mar 17, 2018

Blended Citizen was not among the original nominees to the Triple Crown, but his connections plan to nominate him following his win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Saturday at Turfway Park. Owners Greg Hall and Steve Young were at Turfway for the 34-point…

Mar 17, 2018

Go Noni Go proved too good for her seven rivals in Saturday’s $101,600 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) at Turfway Park, taking the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race by two lengths for trainer Mike Maker.Campaigned by Three Diamonds Farm, the dark bay daughter…

Mar 16, 2018

If the Kentucky Derby (G1) recognized one contender as “Mr. Congeniality,” Solomini would be a leading candidate for the honor. But with his pedigree, connections, and talent, he’s much more than just a friendly face. By Hall of Famer Curlin, also the…

Mar 16, 2018

The next phase of the Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin in about a week, with races bumped from 85 to 170 total points each toward a starting berth in the May 5 Kentucky Derby (G1). It didn’t used to be this way, though. The points system so familiar…

Mar 15, 2018

The $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) on Saturday at Turfway Park drew a contentions field of 11 sophomore fillies to go a mile over the synthetic Polytrack, and the final two runners in the gate have been made the morning-line favorites. The Bourbonette…

Mar 15, 2018

The Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Jeff Ruby Steaks (formerly the Spiral Stakes) at Turfway Park are on deck for the weekend.

Mar 15, 2018

Features Derby-Winning Jockeys Pat Day and Gary Stevens and Trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Carl Nafzger; Benefits Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, March 15, 2018) – Churchill Downs today announced Champions Day presented by…

Mar 14, 2018

A contentious field of 11 sophomores has been entered in Saturday’s $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.FREE Brisnet.com Past Performances for the Rebel Stakes The 1 1/16-mile affair is part of the Championship portion of the Road to the Kentucky…

Mar 14, 2018

Magicalmeister upset Turfway Park’s John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at 39-1 on February 23, and  Saturday returns to the all-weather Poltytrack at that venue for the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) going nine furlongs.FREE Brisnet.com Past Performances for…

Mar 14, 2018

5 Fast Facts about the Rebel Stakes, a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race 1. The Rebel Stakes (G2), contested at Oaklawn Park at a distance of 1 1/16 miles, dates to 1961. However, its first 15 runnings were as an overnight handicap. It became a…

Mar 13, 2018

Bolt d'Oro (#1, 64 points) and Enticed (#2, 63) grabbed the top two spots while Quip (#5, 50) entered the top five in the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings with victories last weekend. Elevated to first on the controversial disqualification of…

Mar 11, 2018

Eight weeks in advance of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 4-1 favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW).Four-time Kentucky Derby-winning…

Mar 11, 2018

Eight weeks in advance of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds”closed as the 4-1 favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). Four-time Kentucky Derby-winning…

Mar 10, 2018

Bolt d’Oro finished a head behind McKinzie on the wire of Saturday’s $400,690 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park following a stretch-long duel that saw the pair exchange bumps over the fast main track. The close finish, and multiple contacts, resulted…

Mar 10, 2018

Norma Lee Stockseth and Todd Dunn’s Cosmic Burst ran down Amy’s Challenge in the stretch of Saturday’s $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park to post a 1 3/4-length victory under jockey Richard Eramia. The Honeybee is part of the Championship portion…

Mar 10, 2018

After a disappointing season debut in last month's Holy Bull (G2), Enticed bounced back with authority in Saturday's $300,000 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct for owner-breeder Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Enticed…

Mar 10, 2018

Quip wore down pacesetter World of Trouble in deep stretch and recorded a 19-1 upset in Saturday’s $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), making his first appearance of 2018 a winning one in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier. Florent Geroux was up…

Mar 9, 2018

Living up to favoritism in his seasonal reappearance, Mendelssohn turned in a professional performance in Friday’s Patton S. at Dundalk. In the process, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner vaulted to the top of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby…

Mar 9, 2018

Equipment which can help a horse’s performance in both training and racing was discussed last week. However, one fundamental piece of equipment wasn’t mentioned. Shoes. But aren’t horse shoes simply pieces of metal shaped into a curve and nailed to…

Mar 9, 2018

A trio of Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifiers will be offered Saturday and the $300,000 Gotham (G3), $400,000 San Felipe (G2) and $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) are each worth a combined 85 points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5). Here’s…

Mar 9, 2018

5 Fast Facts about the Tampa Bay Derby, a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race1. Originated in 1981, the Tampa Bay Derby became an important part of the Kentucky Derby trail in Florida. It initially received Grade 3 status in 1984 and after being downgraded…

Mar 8, 2018

Undefeated Amy’s Challenge takes on six rivals Saturday in Oaklawn Park’s $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) as the dark bay miss attempts two turns for the first time. The Honeybee is part of the Championship portion of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and…

Mar 8, 2018

The complexion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard could be altered pointedly within a 22-minute span on Saturday as three significant point-scoring races have been scheduled from coast to coast in rapid-fire succession.   The Grade II, $400,000…

Mar 8, 2018

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) hero Mendelssohn begins his – and trainer Aidan O’Brien’s – quest for the Kentucky Derby (G1) in Friday’s Patton Stakes at Dundalk in Ireland. A scoring race on the European leaderboard, the one-mile stakes on Polytrack offers…

Mar 7, 2018

Multiple Grade 1 hero Bolt d’Oro makes his belated sophomore debut on Saturday breaking from the rail in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. The race is part of the Championship portion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series and offers…

Mar 7, 2018

After recording a 10-1 upset in the Sam F. Davis (G3), Flameaway has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). He’s won three of his last four starts for trainer Mark Casse and heads an 11-horse field that…

Mar 7, 2018

New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski may be currently mulling his future in the NFL, but the three-year-old colt Gronkowski is just getting started. With a physique worthy of his namesake, the British-based Triple Crown nominee muscled his way to victory…

Mar 7, 2018

A return to a one-turn mile might give Firenze Fire an edge in Saturday's $300,000 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, a Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep that will award Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers. While he's…

Mar 7, 2018

Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Promises Fulfilled Shackleford provided Louisville native Dale Romans with his first Classic win when landing the 2011 Preakness Stakes. A son of Shackleford may be the horse to provide him with a second.Promises Fulfilled…

Mar 6, 2018

Louisiana-based Monomoy Girl (#14, 5-1) and California’s unbeaten Dream Tree (#7, 6-1) and rising star Midnight Bisou (#12, 6-1) head the list of 3-year-old fillies among 24 wagering interests set for this week’s three-day run of Churchill Downs’ 2018 Kentucky Oaks…

Mar 6, 2018

Ruis Racing LLC’s Bolt d’Oro (#3, 6-1), a winner in three of four races who will make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $400,000 San Felipe (Grade II) at Santa Anita, and the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (#24, 6-1) were made 6-1 co-morning…

Mar 6, 2018

Promises Fulfilled (#2) became the latest horse to virtually confirm a spot in the gate for the May 5 Kentucky Derby when springing the upset of champion juvenile Good Magic in last Saturday's Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Sent away at…

Mar 5, 2018

Delayed six days thanks to all the snow and deep freeze caused by the “Beast from the East,” the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes is back on the schedule for Wednesday with a field of seven set to go at Kempton Park near London. You can watch…

Mar 4, 2018

His name an allusion to legendary Olympic champion and multiple world record-setter Usain Bolt, Bolt d’Oro has clearly sparked high hopes – even before speeding onto the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for owner/trainer Mick Ruis. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar…

Mar 3, 2018

Another Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, another upset on Saturday as champion juvenile and odds-on favorite Good Magic went down to defeat in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park to Promises Fulfilled, who came out running from post 10…

Mar 3, 2018

Bloom Racing Stable LLC and Allen Racing LLC’s Midnight Bisou took full advantage of Dream Tree’s absence in Saturday’s $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park to record a 2 1/4-length win under jockey Mike Smith. The Bill Spawr-trained…

Mar 3, 2018

Dr. William B. Taylor and Dr. Joan M. Taylor’s homebred Midnight Disguise towered over her rivals in Saturday’s $200,000 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, not only in talent but in size as well. The massive three-year-old filly bided her time in the rear of…

Mar 3, 2018

Phipps Stable’s Fly So High made an impressive debut on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard Saturday, taking her stakes bow in the $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) by three lengths under regular rider Jose Ortiz. The Malibu Moon filly earned 50 points toward…

Mar 2, 2018

A plethora of equipment is needed in horse racing, and not just the basics of saddles and bridles. Items like blinkers, shadow rolls and tongue ties are all vital components in preparing, and racing, a Thoroughbred. But what are these items for? Why…

Mar 1, 2018

First run in 1945, the Fountain of Youth Stakes was named after the mythical fountain of youth which legend says Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon was in search of in the nearby area. Historians say the story is almost certainly false.

Mar 1, 2018

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks heats up this week, with four prep races each offering 50-20-10-5 points toward a starting berth in the 144th edition of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 4. One of those races took place Thursday, and Rayya…

Mar 1, 2018

Following a week of minimal action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Championship Series returns Saturday with all eyes focused on champion Good Magic’s 3-year-old debut in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (Grade II) at Gulfstream Park.   The 72nd…

Mar 1, 2018

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf isn’t usually regarded as a guide to the Kentucky Derby, but at least six of the runners in last year’s edition are making progress on the Derby trail, the latest being Southwest Stakes (G3) winner My Boy Jack.

Mar 1, 2018

With Kentucky Oaks (G1) nominee Rayya dominating Thursday’s $250,000 UAE Oaks (G3) in front-running fashion, the Meydan feature may have more of a bearing on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs this year. Plans for the Kentucky-bred daughter of…

Feb 28, 2018

A runaway winner of last November's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) but a narrower victor of the Eclipse Award as 2017 champion juvenile colt, Good Magic will make his much-anticipated three-year-old debut Saturday in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at…

Feb 27, 2018

With the arrival of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series points races, which began last weekend in the Risen Star (G2), changes to the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard should come fast and furious over the next six weeks. While fans will have three…

Feb 27, 2018

UPDATE: Kempton canceled racing Thursday due to heavy snow, and the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions S. will now be run on Wednesday, March 7. Friday’s originally scheduled points race, the Patton S., had already been transferred to March 9 after the cancellation…

Feb 27, 2018

Officially Licensed Artwork Available on Variety of MerchandiseLOUISVILLE, Ky. (Tuesday, February 27, 2018) – Churchill Downs today released the 2018 “Official Art of the Kentucky Derby” by award-winning American and Kentucky painter Lynn Dunbar. Dunbar…

Feb 26, 2018

Eleven years ago, Stonestreet Stables made its Kentucky Derby (G1) debut with Curlin, a fine third at Churchill Downs on the way to compiling a Hall of Fame career. Fast forward to 2018, and now it’s a son of Curlin, champion Good Magic, who’s fueling the…

Feb 23, 2018

In 2009, Mine That Bird swept up the rail at Churchill Downs, closing from last to first, to win the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 6 3/4 lengths. He became one of the longest-priced winners of the famed Run for the Roses when sent off at 50-1.

Feb 23, 2018

My Boy Jack joined the Kentucky Derby picture with a flourish, closing fast to post a convincing win in the February 19 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. A juvenile turf stakes winner exiting a non-threatening third in the January 6 Sham (G3) at Santa…

Feb 23, 2018

Bravazo notched his first stakes win in the February 17 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds and with the 50-point prize, the improving 3-year-old likely guaranteed himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby field. The 1 1/16-mile race kicked off the Championship Series…

Feb 22, 2018

Can you guess the top 5 jockeys in Kentucky Derby history, in receding order?

Feb 20, 2018

Provided he remains healthy and competitive, Bravazo (#1, 54 points) virtually assured himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting field by a few inches over Snapper Sinclair (#4, 22) in last Saturday's Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. The first…

Feb 20, 2018

Nominations Open at Noon For 144 Breast Cancer Survivors to Walk in 2018 Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade presented by KrogerLOUISVILLE, KY (Tuesday, February 20, 2018) – Churchill Downs, Derby Divas and Norton Cancer Institute today announced that they will…

Feb 19, 2018

Much like Hawaakom did in the Razorback H. (G3) one race before, My Boy Jack burst threw an opening at the rail in the stretch en route to victory in the $500,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Monday. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest was the final Prep Season…

Feb 19, 2018

If his connections want it, Sumahama has a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Feb 19, 2018

Bravazo spent much of his career slipping under the radar. But after the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, he became the first horse to book a place in the Kentucky Derby field.

Feb 18, 2018

Though technically there was only one Kentucky Oaks (G1) points race this weekend, two events will be mentioned in this roundup. First up, of course, is Monomoy Girl. The Tapizar filly ascended to the top of the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with a romping…

Feb 18, 2018

After a horse has broken, or won, his maiden, the next stage is to try him against winners. Some runners will go through the different race classifications – maiden, allowance/optional claimer, stakes, graded stakes – in order.

Feb 18, 2018

Sumahama extended his winning streak to three in Sunday’s Hyacinth S. at Tokyo, earning 30 points in the final scoring race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Thereby topping the Japan Road leaderboard, the son of Japanese champion Neo Universe (himself a son of Sunday Silence) has earned an invitation to compete in the May 5 Run for the Roses.

Feb 17, 2018

A great name in Kentucky Derby (G1) history, Calumet Farm, likely secured an opportunity to win a ninth Run for the Roses in May as its homebred colt Bravazo pulled off a 21-1 upset of the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The…

Feb 17, 2018

Monomoy Girl was sent off the 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s $196,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, and pulled off a 2 1/2-length victory despite returning off a three-month break and hitting the gate at the start. Regular rider Florent Geroux…

Feb 17, 2018

Ciaglia Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Paved made history on Saturday by becoming the first filly ever to win Northern California’s Kentucky Derby (G1) scoring race, the $100,900 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. Although Paved…

Feb 16, 2018

There is one “sure thing” on this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby: compelling drama will be abundant. Over the next nine weekends, 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will continue their quest for points in select races to secure a berth in the starting gate…