Kentucky Derby News

Feb 3, 2018

Audible was heard loud and clear in Saturday's $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, turning back a stretch challenge from Free Drop Billy and coasting home an easy winner under Javier Castellano. Owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF…

Feb 3, 2018

Take Charge Paula joined the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard on Saturday with an easy victory in the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The dark bay daughter of Take Charge Indy pressed the early pace set by Heavenhasmynikki through the opening…

Feb 3, 2018

Avery Island tracked a longshot pacesetter to the far turn, seized command, and safely held off two pursuers through the stretch to take Saturday's $245,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct. A homebred racing for Godolphin, Avery Island scored by two lengths…

Feb 2, 2018

Read about how horses learn to listen to their riders, experience tack for the first time and are allowed to acclimate.

Feb 2, 2018

Grade 1 heroine Dream Tree is the one to beat in Sunday’s $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park as she puts her perfect three-for-three mark on the line. The Bob Baffert filly is part of a six-strong field entered in the one-mile affair,…

Feb 1, 2018

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby is about to awaken from its winter hibernation, with the next scoring races just a month away. It’s also about to get much more informative. That’s partly because the races are worth more points as we draw nearer…

Feb 1, 2018

After a couple of weekends without a qualifier, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series gets back in full swing Saturday with a trio of points’ races: Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita and Withers (G3) at Aqueduct. Here…

Feb 1, 2018

Multiple stakes winner Take Charge Paula highlights a field of eight entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong contest is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points races. It’s worth 10-4-2-1…

Feb 1, 2018

Until renamed in Bob Lewis’ honor, the race was known as the Santa Catalina Stakes. Founded in 1935, it was until 1964 a race for 3-year-olds and up; its winners include champion turf horse T.V. Lark, Kelso’s sire Your Host, and the high-class Californian handicap horse Terrang, a dual winner.

Feb 1, 2018

Good Magic, eFive Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s champion 2-year-old Thoroughbred of 2017 and winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I), heads an international roster of 360 3-year-old Thoroughbreds made eligible during the early…

Jan 31, 2018

Nine sophomores will line up for their share of 17 total points offered up by the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, but not one entered in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points contest own a stakes win yet. The 1 1/16-mile…

Jan 31, 2018

The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull is one of three Kentucky Derby (G1) points races on Saturday along with the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. Derby qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 for the top four finishers in all three are…

Jan 31, 2018

Firenze Fire showed plenty of grit recording a trio of graded stakes victories, including the January 13 Jerome in his 2018 opener, and heart has never been the issue for Jason Servis-trained colt. His ability to thrive at longer distances is the question…

Jan 30, 2018

5 Fast Facts about the Holy Bull Stakes, a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race1. The Holy Bull is named for the 1994 Horse of the Year and 2001 Hall of Fame inductee who won 13 of 16 career starts, including the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.…

Jan 30, 2018

After a couple quiet weeks, the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard will see some changes throughout the afternoon of February 3 when the Withers (G3), Holy Bull (G2), and Robert B. Lewis (G3) offer qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 to their respective top four…

Jan 27, 2018

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner closed out his future Hall of Fame career on Saturday with an easy win in the $16.3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Just two days after being crowned the 2017 Horse of the…

Jan 27, 2018

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is well underway in the New Year, so it’s time to catch up with what the girls have been doing.

Jan 27, 2018

Alums of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) were well represented at Thursday night’s Eclipse Awards, led by the newly minted Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male, Gun Runner. Among the leaders of the 2016 three-year-old division,…

Jan 26, 2018

The different types of horse sales was the topic of conversation last week as the last installment of our Kentucky Derby 101 series, but that only grazed the surface of auctions.

Jan 25, 2018

The higher the BRIS Speed rating the better. And when it comes to the Kentucky Derby, the winner always receives at least a triple-digit number (100 or more). But the Kentucky Derby isn’t held until the first Saturday in May and it’s fair to ask: how…

Jan 25, 2018

Midnight Disguise drew off in the stretch of Thursday’s $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct to earn her first stakes victory and 10 points toward a starting berth in the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Jan 22, 2018

Instilled Regard hadn't been wanted at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale, with the final bid of $110,000 not enough to meet his reserve.

Jan 21, 2018

Popular champion California Chrome, who earned legions of fans during his Triple Crown bid in 2014, has sired his first foal – a colt born Saturday night at historic Calumet Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The foal’s dam is millionaire Pay the Man, a star…

Jan 21, 2018

The $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct on Thursday drew a field of six fillies to battle it out for their share of 17 total points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The 1 1/16-mile race will award 10-4-2-1 points to the respective top four finishers…

Jan 21, 2018

At this point on the road to the Kentucky Derby, there are a number of paths he can take, but one of the most common is the auction house.

Jan 18, 2018

The Kentucky Derby is always full of great horses, so when it’s won by a huge margin, people invariably think the winner must be a great horse.

Jan 18, 2018

Nominations of talented and promising 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to compete in the races of the 2018 Triple Crown – the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), the $1.5 million Preakness (GI) and the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI)…

Jan 17, 2018

Jerry Hollendorfer mentioned other reasons like a favorable track surface and the race’s placement on the calendar, but the fact remains Instilled Regard was able to avoid heavy hitters like Bolt d’Oro, McKinzie and Solomini by shipping to Fair Grounds for…

Jan 17, 2018

The January 15 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park played out as many expected, with 3-5 favorite Mourinho accelerating clear from the gate and easily leading wire-to-wire. Combatant didn’t receive the right set-up but deserves credit for a respectable runner-up…

Jan 17, 2018

Firenze Fire displayed enormous heart gutting out narrow wins in the Champagne (G1) and Sanford (G3) last season and the fire continued to burn bright in the January 13 Jerome at Aqueduct as he gamely wore down pacesetter Seven Trumpets to prevail in the…

Jan 16, 2018

The final Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep races for the month of January were contested over the three-day holiday weekend, so the leaderboard will remain stable until February 3, minus any defections in the interim.The most significant mover…

Jan 15, 2018

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Bob Baffert wins a Kentucky Derby prep race at Oaklawn Park. Actually don’t stop us because it happened, and we want to tell you about it. The Racing Hall of Fame trainer who used Oaklawn to prep eventual…

Jan 13, 2018

Instilled Regard continued his ascent up the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard with a 3 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Jan 13, 2018

Odds-on favorite Firenze Fire needed almost the length of the stretch to wear down front-running Seven Trumpets in Saturday's $150,000 Jerome at Aqueduct, the second point-scoring opportunity of 2018 in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Jan 13, 2018

Fern Circle Stables’ Stronger Than Ever was sent off at 33-1 in Fair Grounds’ $148,500 Silverbulletday but dug in to defeat even-money favorite Wonder Gadot when securing a neck victory over that rival on Saturday.

Jan 12, 2018

Trainer Bob Baffert has successfully utilized Oaklawn Park’s series of three-year-old stakes leading up to the Kentucky Derby in the past, including with Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, and on Monday ships Mourinho to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the $150,000…

Jan 11, 2018

Though 15 sophomores were originally entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds, a field of 13 appears to be on course to start in the mile-and-70-yard affair that is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series of points races.

Jan 11, 2018

Founded in 1970, the race is named after one of the most notable horses in early Fair Grounds history.

Jan 10, 2018

Scheduled as the New Year’s Day feature at Aqueduct, and the first race of 2018 to offer points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the $150,000 Jerome Stakes was postponed after a winter storm hit the Jamaica, New York, area.

Jan 10, 2018

A field of 12 sophomore fillies has been entered to go a mile and 70 yards at Fair Grounds on Saturday in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, and Wonder Gadot will be looking for her second straight stakes score in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks points contest.

Jan 9, 2018

American Pharoah used a pair of Oaklawn Park preps to set up his 2015 Triple Crown run and a myriad of top trainers, including Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen, will prepare their Kentucky Derby contenders over the Hot Springs, Arkansas oval.

Jan 8, 2018

McKinzie, trained by four-time Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning horseman Bob Baffert, was the first prospect to improve his position on the Road to the Kentucky Derby point leaderboard this year when taking the Sham (G3) at Santa Anita on January 6. With the…

Jan 7, 2018

Allen Racing LLC and Bloom Racing Stable LLC’s Midnight Bisou recorded a 4 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s $201,035 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park to both break her maiden and debut on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard.

Jan 6, 2018

A more relaxed and less keen McKinzie was on display in Saturday's $100,345 Sham (G3) at Santa Anita, and the 1-5 favorite did not disappoint his numerous backers in the one-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) prep. A tracking fourth under Mike Smith, McKinzie…

Jan 5, 2018

While the Eclipse Awards for two-year-olds prompt us to look ahead to the 2018 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), several horses up for championships in other age groups make us look back to past runnings of the Churchill Downs classics.

Jan 5, 2018

The 2018 portion of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks begins Sunday at Santa Anita Park with the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2), awarding 10-4-2-1 points to the top four finishers of the seven-furlong feature. Nine newly turned sophomore fillies have been…

Jan 5, 2018

The finalists for the Eclipse Awards, U.S. racing’s year-end honors, were announced Friday, and there were no surprises among the candidates for champion two-year-old male and female of 2017. The winners will be revealed at a Gulfstream Park gala on the…

Jan 4, 2018

First held in 2001, the race is named after Sham, the horse best known for running second to Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but a fine horse in his own right.

Jan 4, 2018

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is tied for second all-time with four Kentucky Derby victories, will send out top contenders McKinzie and Mourinho in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. Worth a total of 17 points (10-4-2-1 scale)…

Dec 29, 2017

UPDATE: The Jerome will not be run Monday after Aqueduct canceled live racing on account of the extreme cold and subzero wind chills. Stay tuned for further developments. ***The chase for Kentucky Derby (G1) points resumes on New Year’s Day with the $150,000…

Dec 28, 2017

5 Fast Facts about the Jerome Stakes, the first Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier of 2018  1. First run in 1866, the Jerome Stakes is the second-oldest stakes race in the United States, behind the Travers Stakes. It is named after successful New York…

Dec 20, 2017

Plenty of horses have arrived at Churchill Downs on the First Saturday in May with huge reputations. But in competitive fields, they can be beaten. Below are the five shortest-priced favorites who came up short in the Kentucky Derby.

Dec 19, 2017

Trying to find a clear leader among 2018 Kentucky Derby contenders with all the 2-year-old qualifying races complete is just about an impossible task.

Dec 19, 2017

After being installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite, Greyvitos did not receive the expected betting action from post 12 in the December 17 Springboard Mile at Remington Park but supporters got the last laugh as the gray colt rolled home to a 2 ¼-length…

Dec 19, 2017

Anyone who watched a grey colt fade badly on debut on the Santa Anita turf July 1 would have trouble imagining the colt would end the year being in the conversation for the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

Dec 17, 2017

Triple B Farm’s Greyvitos posted a 2 1/4-length victory on Sunday night in Remington Park’s $402,400 Springboard Mile to make his debut on the 2018 Kentucky Derby Leaderboard. The Springboard Mile joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby series of points…

Dec 15, 2017

A dozen juveniles, including the top three from the Clever Trevor Stakes and the winner from the Bob Hope Stakes (G3), have been entered to go eight furlongs in Sunday evening’s $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park. The contest makes its debut this…

Dec 15, 2017

Three outstanding runs as a 2-year-old suggest Le Vent Se Leve has the potential to represent Japan very well in the 2018 Kentucky Derby should he qualify.

Dec 15, 2017

Four races into his career, Catholic Boy looks like he may well have the stamina to be a Kentucky Derby player. The question will be if he has the speed and class.

Dec 13, 2017

Exciting prospect Le Vent Se Leve kept the buzz going in Wednesday’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, readily justifying favoritism to stay perfect in three starts. The Kiyoshi Hagiwara trainee banked 10 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby,…

Dec 13, 2017

The Street Sense colt ended 2018 with two wins from two starts, and he looks the type to continue improving as the Kentucky Derby approaches.

Dec 13, 2017

First staged in 1999, the $400,000 Springboard Mile is the most important 2-year-old race at Remington Park, Oklahoma City. It is one of five stakes races on the final day of the 2017 Remington Park Thoroughbred season.

Dec 12, 2017

Solomini proved to be the best horse in the December 9 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1), edging away late by nearly a length in the Kentucky Derby prep race, but did not maintain a straight path in the stretch as he drifted in and repeatedly bumped Instilled Regard…

Dec 11, 2017

The new addition to the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, Wednesday’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, rates as the nation’s top race for two-year-olds on dirt. Held over a metric mile (1600 meters), it features arguably Japan’s most compelling runner…

Dec 10, 2017

The Bob Baffert-trained Dream Tree joined the Road to the 2018 Kentucky Oaks on Saturday when pulling off for an easy victory in the Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos to remain unbeaten in three career starts. The race was the final points contest…

Dec 9, 2017

The first disqualification from first in the 37-year history of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) occurred Saturday, but Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert still came out a winner for the 10th time in the 1 1/16-mile, $300,000 race as odds-on favorite McKinzie…

Dec 9, 2017

Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Dream Tree bided her time in second under jockey Drayden Van Dyke before asserting her class to post a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $294,000 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos.The Uncle Mo filly tracked pacesetter Yesterday's…

Dec 8, 2017

Japan may have its own qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby, but a Japanese-bred horse has been the leading performer in the inaugural qualifying series in Europe.

Dec 8, 2017

5 Fast Facts about the Los Alamitos Futurity, a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep-race Run for the first time in 1981, the race began its life as the Hollywood Futurity and was run at Hollywood Park over 1 1/16 miles for all but six editions in the late…

Dec 6, 2017

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has a thing for futurities. The four-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winning trainer has won Del Mar's juvenile showcase 13 times, and on Saturday will attempt to win the $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1), which began life…

Dec 6, 2017

The final Road to the Kentucky Oaks points race of 2017 takes place Saturday at Los Alamitos, and five fillies will line up for their share of 10-4-2-1 points toward a starting berth in next spring’s Kentucky Oaks (G1). Exuberance drew the inside post…

Dec 6, 2017

Visually awesome striding away to a 4 ¾-length decision, Catholic Boy impressed on multiple fronts in the December 2 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct. The 2-year-old registered a commendable 98 BRIS Speed rating switching from turf to dirt for the Road to the Kentucky…

Dec 3, 2017

A pair of points races on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks took place recently, one over Thanksgiving weekend and the other on Saturday, and the winners turned out be Mark Casse-trained stablemates. First up was the Golden Rod Stakes (G2), which took place…

Dec 2, 2017

Making his first dirt start, Catholic Boy established himself as a Kentucky Derby contender with a tour-de-force victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct. The Jonathan Thomas-trained son of More Than Ready rated just off the pace with jockey…

Dec 2, 2017

Wonder Gadot made her debut in the fifth spot on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard Saturday thanks to a 3 3/4-length score in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. The Mark Casse-trained filly earned 10 points toward a starting berth in next year’s Kentucky…

Nov 30, 2017

This is called weaning, and the foal at this point is called a weanling.

Nov 30, 2017

Avery Island has left a positive impression in his last two outings, breaking the maiden by a 5 ¼-length margin and romping by 4 ¾ lengths in the November 5 Nashua (G2), and the promising youngster will make his first start in the Road to the Kentucky Derby…

Nov 30, 2017

The Kentucky Derby remains on the list of races that Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin wants to win, and the team will be hoping Enticed might be the one to do it in 2018.

Nov 30, 2017

If a Japanese horse is to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby, then it’s maybe appropriate if it has two past Kentucky Derby winners in its first three generations.

Nov 30, 2017

The Remsen Stakes is run at Aqueduct in New York and is worth 10 points towards the Road to the Kentucky Derby for the winner.

Nov 29, 2017

With just one month left in 2017, Saturday’s $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct is the penultimate chance for two-year-old fillies to pick up points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks before kicking off their sophomore campaigns. The final race,…

Nov 28, 2017

Enticed left the starting gate as the 3-1 favorite after a respectable third in the Champagne (G1) and Tiz Mischief was the 5-1 second choice off an eye-catching maiden win. The 2-year-olds proved to be the stars of the November 25 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2)…

Nov 26, 2017

With the Kentucky Derby still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 6-5 favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) and the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) third-place finisher Bolt d’Oro…

Nov 25, 2017

Godolphin’s homebred Enticed was sent off the 3-1 favorite against 13 rivals in Saturday’s $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and lived up to those odds when pulling out a head victory under jockey Junior Alvarado on the wire. The 1 1/16-mile contest…

Nov 25, 2017

Road to Victory was latched on tightly to odds-on favorite Monomoy Girl most of the way in Saturday's $200,000 Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs, and the pair of juvenile fillies ultimately turned the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep into a two-horse…

Nov 25, 2017

Takashi Muraki’s Ruggero switched from turf to dirt for Saturday’s Cattleya Sho at Tokyo, the first race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, and found the surface agreeable when prevailing in a three-way finish. The nearly 4-1 third choice in the…

Nov 23, 2017

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby begins at Tokyo Saturday (late Friday night U.S. time) with the Cattleya Sho. An allowance race over a metric mile on dirt, the Cattleya Sho is the first of an expanded three-race scoring series in Japan. The second leg,…

Nov 22, 2017

A son of Medaglia d'Oro and multiple Grade 1 winner It's Tricky, Godolphin homebred Enticed was bred to be a good one. His prospects, and those of others, for next May's Kentucky Derby (G1) can improve dramatically with a victory Saturday in the $200,000…

Nov 22, 2017

Monmoy will put her 3-for-3 record on the line against 11 rivals in Saturday’s $200,000 Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. After capturing her first two starts on turf, the 2-year-old daughter of Tapizar switched to the main track and posted a stylish 6…

Nov 21, 2017

Gun Runner finished fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes so which other potential super stars in the making could exit this year?

Nov 20, 2017

Offspring sired by Curlin – led by Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) top two Good Magic and Solomini – are 8-1 odds on the morning line for the third annual Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, which provides bettors with a unique opportunity to wager…

Nov 20, 2017

The first of Churchill Downs’ four 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”) pools kicks off its four-day run on Thanksgiving Day with a familiar wagering favorite in “All Others” (#24, 7-5 on the morning line), but a strong roster of potential Derby stars…

Nov 20, 2017

Coca-Cola Consolidated To Celebrate Partnership with Limited-Edition Kentucky Derby 144 Bottle This Spring  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (November 20, 2017) – Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky…

Nov 20, 2017

November 18 at Churchill Downs witnessed an uncommon feat with a win by $16,000 claiming competitor Big Exchange.History records that Man o’ War won the 1920 Belmont Stakes by 20 lengths and the Lawrence Realization the same year by 100 lengths, but neither…

Nov 17, 2017

Who decided that all Thoroughbreds would share a January 1 birthday?

Nov 17, 2017

5 Fast Facts about the best horses that failed to win the Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is often where the best North American horses prove their greatness. But because it’s where the best of the best meet, some of the greatest get beaten. Here’s a…

Nov 15, 2017

Observers were taken by surprise when trainer Aidan O’Brien opted for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) for Mendelssohn. Listed as first preference for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the half-brother to future Hall of Famer Beholder appeared destined…

Nov 10, 2017

5 Fast Facts about the Bob Hope Stakes The race was founded in 1981 as the Hollywood Prevue Stakes, and was run at the old Hollywood Park racecourse in Inglewood, California. It was renamed the Bob Hope Stakes when Hollywood Park closed and Del Mar took…

Nov 10, 2017

Good Magic, Solomini and Bolt d’Oro were the first three under the finish line in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, with nearly a 10-length gap back to the rest of the field, and the trio will enter next year as top-ranked contenders…

Nov 4, 2017

For a fleeting moment in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, Gun Runner looked as if he might challenge Nyquist to win the world’s most prestigious race before finishing third. Eighteen months later, Gun Runner looked as if no one could challenge him when he won the…