Kentucky Derby News

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby culminates in Saturday’s Fukuryu S. at Nakayama, determining who earns the invitation to the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing’s Fulleffort moved to the lead in the early stretch and powered clear late in posting a decisive, 2 1/2-length win in the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on March 21.

Klaravich Stables’ three-year-old named Emerging Market loomed up to the leader in the stretch and got up by a head under the wire in taking the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 21.

A standout field of eight three-year-olds with hopes of making it to Louisville in May will run 1 1/8 miles on the Gulfstream Park dirt in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1).

It's the most crucial weekend so far on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a quartet of stakes action from around the globe that will have implications on the field for the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve...

The first three 200-point prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) have now been run, and all went to horses without previous victories in the series.

Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park is an important stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers.

A stellar field has turned out for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

Emerging Market and Fulleffort are Kentucky Derby-bound after winning major qualifiers over the weekend, the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

"He would run right up to us as soon as we opened the gate, like, hey, I’m here—play with me!"