Kentucky Derby News

Feb 12, 2019

Last weekend's Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs had only a nominal effect on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series standings with the winning Well Defined (#13, 10 points) entering the top 20 and runner-up Kentucky Wildcat (#24, 4) likely to miss…

Feb 11, 2019

The list of 2019 Triple Crown nominees includes 11 sophomores in Europe, seven of them hailing from trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle. Unlike last year when Mendelssohn loomed as a major contender over the winter, this time around, Team Coolmore is still…

Feb 11, 2019

Stonehedge, LLC’s Well Defined broke best and led at every call in a gate-to-wire tally in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. The gelded Florida-bred picked up 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby following his impressive score…

Feb 11, 2019

Five horses currently in Dubai have been made eligible for the 2019 Triple Crown . The Godolphin pair of Royal Marine and Royal Meeting are both Group 1 winners on the European turf, while Phoenix Ladies Syndicate’s duo of Walking Thunder and Superior…

Feb 11, 2019

Four Japanese sophomores have been nominated to the 2019 Triple Crown , and two of them have already scored points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby – Derma Louvre and Romantico. The other nominees are Master Fencer, two-for-two since switching…

Feb 10, 2019

With the Kentucky Derby still 12 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 5-2 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) and the unbeaten champion 2-year-old Game Winner was the 5-1 second choice. Flashy…

Feb 10, 2019

Dwight Pruett’s Gray Attempt took command at the start and never looked back en route to a victory in the Smarty Jones Stakes on January 25. The sophomore finished off one mile at Oaklawn Park in 1:36.94 to earn 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky…

Feb 9, 2019

Well Defined was left alone to dictate the pace of the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (G3) on Saturday and refused to stop. Wearing blinkers for the first time, the With Distinction gelding maintained a clear advantage throughout to spring a 7-1 upset in the Road…

Feb 9, 2019

Far from a dominating effort, Bellafina nonetheless improved her record on the year to two-for-two in Saturday's $200,000 Las Virgenes (G2) at Santa Anita, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks series race over one mile. Taking the lead entering the first turn…

Feb 9, 2019

Classically bred as a daughter of Curlin from a Bernardini mare, undefeated Point of Honor stamped herself as a KentuckyOaks (G1) contender with a powerful closing rush in Saturday’s $100,000 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. The George Weaver trainee…

Feb 8, 2019

The rise of Mucho Gusto on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail has a broader significance for the Thoroughbred pedigree world. As a budding star from the first crop of Mucho Macho Man, he’s a sign of renewed hope for the survival of the male line of 1898 Kentucky…

Feb 8, 2019

Leading West Coast-based Kentucky Oaks contender Bellafina tops a field of five in Saturday’s $200,000 Las Virgenes (G2) at Santa Anita. The classy three-year-old filly has been installed as the 2-5 favorite on the morning line and Flavien Prat rides for…

Feb 7, 2019

A field of 10 sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3). The event is one of two Road to the Kentucky Derby races to be held at Tampa Bay this spring, with the top four finishers earning…

Feb 7, 2019

The Best Bet of the weekend will come from Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) attracted a nice field 10 for the Road to the Kentucky Derby event, with the winner receiving 10 points. I am banking that the test will become…

Feb 6, 2019

Knicks Go entered his winter break with 18 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to his name courtesy of a victory in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at odds of 70-1 and a second-place effort in Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at odds of 40-1 last fall. Nonetheless,…

Feb 6, 2019

Led by unbeaten 2-year-old champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) hero Game Winner, a total of 362 3-year-old Thoroughbreds were made eligible to compete in this year’s Triple Crown during the early nomination phase, which closed Jan. 26.            Each…

Feb 5, 2019

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Grade I-winning duo of Game Winner and Improbable are the individual morning line favorites in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager but “All Other 3-Year-Olds” is expected to be the overall preference when betting…

Feb 4, 2019

There was plenty of movement on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard this past weekend as three prep races were run in New York, Florida, and California. Mucho Gusto (#6, 14 points), who had four points from a second-place effort in the Los Alamitos Futurity…

Feb 4, 2019

R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable’s Tax surged through an opening along the inside in early stretch and held a pair of stubborn foes at bay to the wire in securing a head victory in the $250,000 Withers Stakes…

Feb 3, 2019

Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott K. Akman and Paul Braverman’s Harvey Wallbanger powered home along the rail in posting a last-to-first triumph in the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on February 2. The Ken McPeek trainee…

Feb 3, 2019

Michael Lund Pedersen’s Mucho Gusto put his name among sophomores to watch with an impressive tally in the February 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. The $625,000 son of Mucho Macho Man powered clear to a third win from four lifetime engagements,…

Feb 3, 2019

Repole Stables’ homebred Always Shopping has been crying out for extra ground to accommodate her late-running style, and on Sunday the bay miss was given just that in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct. Run at the same distance as the May…

Feb 2, 2019

Michael Lund Petersen’s MUCHO GUSTO left little doubt as to who was best in the $147,351 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Bob Baffert trainee always traveled like a winner and finished 4 3/4 lengths clear under the wire,…

Feb 2, 2019

R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable’s TAX took a short lead nearing midstretch and gamely held off a pair of stern foes to take the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The gelded son…

Feb 2, 2019

Harold Lerner LLC et al’s Harvey Wallbanger raced in last for the opening half-mile of the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The 29-1 outsider ranged a bit closer at the six-furlong marker when in sixth, but the colt still had…

Feb 2, 2019

Gary Barber’s Power Gal raced wide throughout Saturday’s $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks points race at Oaklawn Park, before getting up in the stretch to record a half-length victory under jockey David Cohen. The Japanese-bred…

Feb 2, 2019

Klaravich Stables Inc.’s Feedback was sent off the 1-2 favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and didn’t disappoint with a half-length victory. The Chad Brown pupil broke fast, sticking her neck in front once…

Feb 2, 2019

A tiring third when last seen in the Demoiselle (G2), Filly Joel rates as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s $100,000 Busanda over the same 1 1/8-mile distance at Aqueduct. But she’ll have to step up to beat 10 rivals in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) points…

Feb 1, 2019

The $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) marks the second Kentucky Derby qualifier at Santa Anita this year and Gunmetal Gray will look to make it two straight. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained colt rallied dramatically to win the Sham (G3) on January 5 and meets…

Jan 31, 2019

A talented field of 10 sophomores will vie at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2). The Road to the Kentucky Derby event is led by unbeaten Grade 2 winner Maximus Mischief, though the field is full of promising prospects.…

Jan 31, 2019

One of Saratoga’s most buzzworthy maiden winners last summer, Feedback returns to action in Saturday’s $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The highly regarded filly rates as the 6-5 morning line favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) scoring race,…

Jan 31, 2019

The Best Bet of the Weekend comes from Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Ten will go postward in the competitive $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2), and my top play comes from the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race. FREE PPs for the Holy Bull Stakes courtesy…

Jan 30, 2019

A pair of promising three-year-olds, Lucky Lee and Moretti, will seek points toward a Kentucky Derby berth when testing stakes waters in Saturday’s $250,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct. Lucky Lee exits a pair of convincing wins at Parx and Moretti romped in…

Jan 30, 2019

Maximus Mischief will look to remain undefeated through Saturday's $350,000 Holy Bull (G2), one of three Road to the Kentucky Derby series events on Saturday.FREE PPs for the Holy Bull Stakes courtesy of Brisnet.com! The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull will be…

Jan 30, 2019

The first of three Kentucky Oaks qualifiers at Oaklawn Park, Saturday’s $125,000 Martha Washington features a rematch between Sunset Wish and Taylor’s Spirit, the top two finishers from the January 4 Take Charge Brandi at Delta Downs. Maiden winners Marathon…

Jan 28, 2019

Front-running Gray Attempt gutted out a victory in last Friday's $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park, thus earning 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and entering the Top 20 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Just missing by a neck…

Jan 27, 2019

The Kentucky Derby is often called the “Super Bowl” of horse racing, but just how much do the events have in common? Before we get to the major points, here are a few intriguing tidbits about the grandest stages of them all: The 2018 Kentucky Derby drew…

Jan 25, 2019

Dwight Pruett has been here before. The Arkansas-based owner won the 2016 Smarty Jones Stakes with Discreetness, but that horse has not won in 11 attempts since. Pruett is optimistic things will be different for Gray Attempt, who won the 2019 Smarty Jones…

Jan 24, 2019

Triple Crown winner Justify took top honors at Thursday night’s 48th annual Eclipse Awards gala, often described as American horse racing’s version of the Oscars. The champion three-year-old male by unanimous vote, Justify was also named 2018 Horse of the…

Jan 24, 2019

A fantastic field of 12 will go postward in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The cast includes some of the best horses in training with Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner and Horse of the Year finalist Accelerate;…

Jan 23, 2019

The Best Bet of the weekend comes from Oaklawn Park on Friday in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes. Nine sophomores will travel one-mile in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points contest.FREE Smarty Jones Stakes PPs courtesy of Brisnet.com! Trainer Steve…

Jan 23, 2019

The nomination period for all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to compete in the races of the 2019 Triple Crown – the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (GI) and the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI)…

Jan 21, 2019

Nine have been entered to go a mile at Oaklawn Park in Friday's Smarty Jones Stakes, and the contest has attracted the top two from the Remington Springboard Mile as well as the winner of the Sugar Bowl Stakes.

Jan 21, 2019

With a resounding victory in last weekend's Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, War of Will entered the Kentucky Derby leaderboard for the first time at #9 after earning 10 qualifying points. The only other horse to enter the Top 20 via the Lecomte was runner-up…

Jan 21, 2019

The final Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep for the month of January is Friday's $150,000 Smarty Jones, the opening day feature of the 2019 meet at Oaklawn Park. The one-mile Smarty Jones is a lead-in to Oaklawn's other Kentucky Derby preps: the…

Jan 20, 2019

Gary Barber’s War of Will  soared to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard by taking the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds February 16. The first race of the "Championship Series," the Risen Star was worth 50 points to the winner,…

Jan 19, 2019

War of Will passed his fast-track debut with flying colors on Saturday, emphatically capturing the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds by four lengths under Tyler Gaffalione. Tugging a bit when racing three wide just off the leaders down the backside, War…

Jan 19, 2019

Mike Abraham, an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding breeder thanks to Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) star Accelerate, has now come up with a potential Kentucky Oaks (G1) filly. The Abraham-bred Needs Supervision made a successful stakes debut in Saturday’s…

Jan 18, 2019

An overflow field of 15 will travel a mile and 70 yards in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The Road to the Kentucky Derby points event boasts a competitive field of sophomore prospects in what appears to be a wide-open endeavor. Here's…

Jan 16, 2019

The first of three Fair Grounds’ qualifiers in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, Saturday’s $150,000 Silverbulletday is topped by Golden Rod (G2) winner Liora. She’s been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite among seven fillies. Contested at…

Jan 15, 2019

A huge field of 15, one of which is on the also-eligible list, will vie in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Sophomores hoping to earn qualifying points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby event will travel two turns in the first…

Jan 15, 2019

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series attracts a largely fresh set of challengers Saturday when a maximum of 14 colts and geldings will compete in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds over one mile and 70 yards. Of the gate-load of entries in the…

Jan 14, 2019

There’s a new three-year-old to follow on the international front. Florida-bred but Dubai-based Walking Thunder romped in last Thursday’s UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, leaving Royal Marine, the pro tem leader on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, well behind…

Jan 13, 2019

It is common knowledge that one does not enter horse racing to make a fortune; instead one must have a fortune to enter horse racing. Or must they? Horse racing has always been known as the Sport of Kings, and not just for the majesty of feeling it…

Jan 11, 2019

Gulfstream Park plays host to a 12-race card on Saturday with two graded tests among the events. The $100,000 Marshua's River (G3) is one of those and it is where the Best Bet of the Weekend comes from. The lightly raced La Signare (#7) (3-1) will make…

Jan 10, 2019

The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) on Saturday, May 4 will be the richest in history as the purse for America’s greatest race and first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown has been elevated to a guaranteed $3 million.  The substantial…

Jan 8, 2019

Half of the four Road to the Kentucky Derby preps scheduled in the month of January are in the books, and joining the point leaderboard early in 2019 was Mind Control, who earned 10 points for winning the $150,000 Jerome at Aqueduct on New Year's…

Jan 7, 2019

Abel Tasman, the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and champion three-year-old filly who is also an Eclipse Award finalist for 2018 champion older dirt female honors, was sold to Coolmore for $5 million at Monday's first session of the 2019 Keeneland…

Jan 7, 2019

The midterm points leader on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, Godolphin’s homebred Royal Marine is expected to try dirt for the first time in Dubai Thursday. The Saeed bin Suroor trainee is among a large group of preliminary entries for the UAE…

Jan 6, 2019

Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina is back. Turning the page on her subpar effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the Simon Callaghan trainee romped in Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) by 8 1/2 lengths. That’s almost as many as the number of points…

Jan 5, 2019

Gunmetal Gray made a last-to-first rally to defeat heavily favored Coliseum and five others in Saturday's $100,702 Sham (G3) at Santa Anita, the first Road to the Kentucky Derby series prep of 2019. Never more than seven lengths off an early pace set…

Jan 4, 2019

A lackluster fourth as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Bellafina aims to regain her winning habit in Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez (G2). The seven-furlong contest at Santa Anita looms as the first Kentucky Oaks (G1) scoring race of…

Jan 4, 2019

The second event on the Road to the Kentucky Derby series will take place at Santa Anita on Saturday in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3). A field of seven will go postward in the one-mile test, and the pair of Bob Baffert-trained sophomores in the cast looks…

Jan 3, 2019

A field of seven newly turned three-year-olds is set to enter the gates at Santa Anita Park on Saturday to take part in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3), the second Road to the Kentucky Derby points contest of 2019. The field is divided between four trainers,…

Jan 3, 2019

Coliseum has been mentioned among the upper echelon of Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby prospects since recording a powerful debut performance at Del Mar in mid-November, romping by 6 3/4 lengths as the 1-2 favorite, and the well-fancied colt can join stablemates Game…

Jan 1, 2019

Mind Control showed speed from the start and turned back multiple challenges posting a front-running victory in the $150,000 Jerome at Aqueduct. The New Year’s Day feature served as a Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier and Mind Control picked up…

Dec 31, 2018

Six newly turned three-year-olds will kick off the season in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct on Tuesday. The January 1 headliner is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series, with the top four finishers earning points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. Here…

Dec 29, 2018

Grade 1 winner Mind Control tops a field of six and Kentucky Derby points are up for grabs in Tuesday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes. The New Year’s Day feature at Aqueduct will be contested at a one-turn mile. As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series,…

Dec 27, 2018

As we look ahead to the emerging three-year-old class of 2019, it’s also time to glance back at the events of the past year. There’s no doubt about which race was the best prep for the 2018 Kentucky Derby (G1): the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (G1), also known…

Dec 26, 2018

Not only is undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Game Winner virtually assured an Eclipse Award as the 2018 champion juvenile male, but the son of Candy Ride will celebrate his third birthday on January 1 as a clear early leader in the 2019 Road…

Dec 20, 2018

U. Carrot Farm’s Nova Lenda extended his winning streak to three in Wednesday’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, earning 20 points to become the new leader on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun is the second scoring race…

Dec 16, 2018

Trainer Steve Asmussen provided the exacta in Sunday evening’s $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park when Long Range Toddy held off Bankit by a head on the wire. The eight-furlong contest is the final race on the domestic calendar of Road to the…

Dec 13, 2018

An interesting field of 11 will go to post in Sunday’s $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park. The lucrative event has grown in stature over the past few seasons and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The top four finishers will receive points…

Dec 12, 2018

The “Best Bet of the Weekend” will come from Remington Park on Sunday. The $400,000 Springboard Mile drew a competitive field of 11, with many nice prospects among the cast. Trainer Steve Asmussen has five in the field and I will tab one from his quintet…

Dec 12, 2018

In search of his first Kentucky Derby (G1) win, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will give five of his stable's two-year-olds an opportunity to earn qualifying points for next year's classic in the Sunday's $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park…

Dec 9, 2018

Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse ProfileLos Alamitos Futurity winner Improbable “When Justify went to the farm from Del Mar this summer, (trainer) Bob (Baffert) put IMPROBABLE in his stall.” So said Elliott Walden, the President/CEO and Racing Manager of…

Dec 9, 2018

Pretty much anyone who has stayed up all night waiting for one of the cutest of all miracles, a new born foal, has come to the same conclusion: a watched mare never foals. In just a few weeks, “foal watch” season kicks off as farms ready for the new arrivals.…

Dec 8, 2018

Team Justify is back on the Triple Crown trail. That’s the inescapable conclusion after WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and Starlight Racing’s Improbable romped as the 1-5 favorite for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in Saturday’s $300,345 Los Alamitos…

Dec 8, 2018

No mare has produced a Triple Crown champion and a Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner, but that factoid may be in jeopardy after American Pharoah’s half-sister, Chasing Yesterday, captured Saturday's $300,345 Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos. The 3-2 favorite got up…

Dec 6, 2018

A field of six will travel 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on Saturday in the $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). Trainer Bob Baffert, who has racked up a sensational mark with two-year-old runners in 2018, is well-represented with a pair in the field and…

Dec 6, 2018

A smashing 7 1/4-length winner of the November 2 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, Improbable will stretch out to two turns and make his first appearance in a Kentucky Derby qualifier when he lines up for Saturday’s $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). A…

Dec 6, 2018

Trainer Michael McCarthy has endured a break-out season in 2018. The former Todd Pletcher assistant went out on his own a few years back and has never amassed success like he has in this season. The conditioner has saddled the winner of eight graded races,…

Dec 6, 2018

Six two-year-old prospects will vie in Saturday’s $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). The Futurity is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, offering points on a 10-4-2-1 basis for the top-four finishers. Conditioner Bob Baffert will have the…

Dec 3, 2018

Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile Remsen winner Maximus Mischief MAXIMUS MISCHIEF took two simultaneous tests in the December 1 Remsen (G2) – a class hike in his first try versus stakes company, and a distance challenge to stretch out from seven…

Dec 2, 2018

The inaugural European Road to the Kentucky Derby winner, Gronkowski, will be off on his international travels again. After placing twice in four U.S. starts for Chad Brown, most notably when runner-up to Triple Crown sweeper Justify in the Belmont (G1),…

Dec 2, 2018

Racing is not just a sport, it is also a business. And like any business, there are several levels that make it up.At the top is, of course, the owner, or the person (or persons) supplying money to run the business. Next comes the trainer, or manager. He/she…

Dec 1, 2018

Despite a little pre-race naughtiness, Maximus Mischief wasn’t fooling around when the gates opened, cruising to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. Well-behaved in the paddock, the two-year-old bay colt balked at loading,…

Dec 1, 2018

Michael Ryan’s Positive Spirit advanced to the lead on the far turn and drew off to a resounding victory in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct. A maiden scorer at Churchill Downs on November 8, the Rudolphe Brisset-trained filly won geared down by 10 1/2…

Nov 29, 2018

Seven juveniles will attempt to navigate 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct main surface in Saturday’s $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2). This race has produced some strong horses in recent years and an interesting cast will each attempt to earn their first graded win…

Nov 29, 2018

The Remsen Stakes (G2) for two-year-olds is one of four graded events on a big day of racing at Aqueduct on Saturday, and it is the contest which will play host to the Weekend’s Best Bet. Following a score by Signalman in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes…

Nov 29, 2018

A dominant winner in his first two starts at Parx Racing,  Maximus Mischief will try to make an impact upon the Kentucky Derby trail when he lines up for Saturday’s $250,000 Remsen (G2)  at Aqueduct. The front-running colt will face six rivals…

Nov 28, 2018

Second best to longshot Oxy Lady in last month's Tempted (G3), Enliven is the likely choice in Saturday's $250,000 Demoiselle (G2) over one, 1 1/8-mile lap of the Aqueduct oval. The Demoiselle is a Road to the Kentucky Oaks series prep, awarding qualifying…

Nov 26, 2018

Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Signalman As a big, immature colt by a late-developing sire in General Quarters, SIGNALMAN figured to be a work in progress, so it’s an encouraging sign that he’s achieved what…

Nov 25, 2018

With the Kentucky Derby still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings” 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) winner Game Winner…

Nov 24, 2018

After a troubled second in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and a third from post 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Signalman put it together in Saturday’s $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Ken McPeek and piloted by Brian…

Nov 24, 2018

Two years after registering an upset with Farrell in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs, trainer Wayne Catalano and jockey Channing Hill played spoiler again in Saturday's $200,000 renewal of the 1 1/16-mile race for two-year-old fillies. Liora,…

Nov 24, 2018

California-bred filly Make Happy remained perfect from two starts when bossing the boys in Saturday’s Cattleya Sho at Tokyo, the first scoring race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite, the Kazuko Yoshida colorbearer…

Nov 22, 2018

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby begins with the Cattleya Sho on Saturday (Friday night 12:15 a.m. EST) at Tokyo, and four American-breds will compete for points in the allowance race over a metric mile. All four were purchased at public auction,…

Nov 22, 2018

The Best Bet of the Weekend comes from Churchill Downs on Saturday in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2). A sizable and competitive field is assembled for the Saturday feature and I will look to the rail post for the winner. SIGNALMAN is the top…

Nov 22, 2018

An overflow field of 16, two of which are on the also-eligible list, will contest Saturday’s $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/16-miles test drew a classy cast including the horses that finished second and third in the…