Kentucky Derby News

Feb 20, 2017

One Liner made a successful step up to stakes company in his first route attempt with a runaway victory in Monday's $500,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park, a Road to the Kentucky Derby Series qualifier which awarded 10 points to the colt owned by WinStar…

Feb 20, 2017

Charismatic, who took fans on an unforgettable ride through the 1999 Triple Crown trail, has passed away at Old Friends , the Thoroughbred Retirement Center near Georgetown, Kentucky. The 21-year-old pensioner had been repatriated from his longtime stud…

Feb 19, 2017

Odds-on favorite Epicharis needed, and found, just enough room on the fence to get up in Sunday’s Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo, preserving his perfect record and topping the inaugural Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Epicharis earned 50 points for his Hyacinth…

Feb 18, 2017

Antone Metaxas’ Zakaroff was sent off the longest shot at 48-1 in Saturday’s $200,450 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields, but that didn’t stop the Steven Specht trainee from capturing the 1 1/8-mile contest under jockey Kyle Frey. The El…

Feb 17, 2017

After rolling to a convincing victory in the January 16 Smarty Jones, Uncontested will try to carry his momentum forward in Monday’s $500,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park The front-running colt heads a field of 13 in the President’s Day feature. The…

Feb 16, 2017

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes Sunday (Saturday night 12:25 a.m. EST) with the Hyacinth Stakes over a metric mile at Tokyo, and five of the 15 entrants are nominees to the Triple Crown.  Two already have Derby points on the board – Mont…

Feb 16, 2017

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby contender Mont Saint Legame could be Came Home's first big Japanese runner.

Feb 15, 2017

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series makes a stop in Northern California for the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields on February 18. Contested over a synthetic Tapeta track, the 1 1/8-mile qualifier offers points on a 10-4-2-1 scale…

Feb 14, 2017

McCraken continued to distinguish himself form-wise when opening his 3-year-old season in the February 11 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, establishing a new track record posting a 1 ½-length victory, and the unbeaten colt finally earned a BRIS Speed…

Feb 14, 2017

McCraken remained undefeated, proved his ability to win outside Churchill Downs, and climbed the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard in the span of 1:42.45 last Saturday when taking his season debut in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Worth…

Feb 13, 2017

If there’s a watchword for Irish War Cry’s life story, it’s patience. Not only is patience the governing philosophy of his owner/breeder, Isabelle de Tomaso, and his handlers along the way, but his dam’s as well. The theme begins in his mother’s womb,…

Feb 12, 2017

Chanel’s Legacy closed out the Prep Season portion of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points races in the Martha Washington Stakes on Saturday. That ended the 10-4-2-1 point contests (except for the April 9 Beaumont Stakes [G3]), with the next series…

Feb 11, 2017

Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC’s McCraken set a new track record of 1:42.45 for 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday when rallying for a 1 1/2-length score in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) as the 3-2 favorite. The Ian Wilkes pupil found himself…

Feb 11, 2017

Chanel’s Legacy was sent off the 13-1 third longest shot in Saturday’s $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park but ran like a favorite to easily score by 2 1/2 lengths under jockey Alex Birzer. The one-mile race closed out the Prep…

Feb 9, 2017

Saturday’s Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs features the return not only of the unbeaten McCracken but also the colt that pushed him hardest in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs last November, Wild Shot. Stamina may…

Feb 8, 2017

McCraken will make his long-awaited return on Saturday when facing eight rivals in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs with regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. The 1 1/16-mile contest makes its debut this year on the Road to…

Feb 8, 2017

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues on Saturday when nine sophomore fillies line up in the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The one-mile contest may not be graded but is an important part of Oaklawn’s three-year-old filly preps to…

Feb 7, 2017

Irish War Cry easily defeated a pair of well-regarded rivals and posted an outstanding 102 BRIS Speed rating in the February 4 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, leading wire-to-wire in a 3 ¾-length decision. It marked the first start in a Kentucky Derby qualifier…

Feb 7, 2017

El Areeb posted a sharp 4 ¼-length tally in the February 4 Withers (G3), romping in a second consecutive Kentucky Derby qualifier on Aqueduct’s inner track. The gray colt hasn’t faced top company, but he’s looked the part registering commendable BRIS Speed…

Feb 7, 2017

Classic Empire was always going to remain atop this week’s Kentucky Derby (G1) leader board regardless of his performance in last weekend’s Holy Bull (G2). However, the juvenile champion and early Derby favorite showed plenty of vulnerability when beaten…

Feb 7, 2017

Royal Mo kept moving forward while making his stakes and 3-year-old bow in the February 4 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, leading all the way in a 3 ½-length decision. But he must run faster to defeat better competition after generating a career-best 95…

Feb 5, 2017

Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella drew closer to the top of the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard on Sunday when romping by 8 3/4 lengths in the $196,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. The one-mile race drew a field of five but only four started,…

Feb 5, 2017

The 2017 portion of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks kicked off January 7 with the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) going seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park. Two more points races followed in the coming weeks at Aqueduct and Fair Grounds. Each contest awarded points…

Feb 4, 2017

Isabelle de Tomaso’s homebred Irish War Cry led all the way home in Saturday’s $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park to move his record to a perfect three-for-three. The chestnut colt grabbed command of the 1 1/16-mile affair soon after the…

Feb 4, 2017

Although M M G Stables’ El Areeb was entitled to win Saturday’s $250,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct as the 1-2 favorite, the Maryland shipper did so in a way that elevated his profile as a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender. El Areeb’s three previous wins had…

Feb 4, 2017

Royal Mo led wire-to-wire in Saturday’s $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita, posting a 3 ½-length victory under three-time Kentucky Derby winner Victor Espinoza. A front-running maiden scorer in his previous start, the 3-year-old colt picked up…

Feb 4, 2017

Tequilita earned her place on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard Saturday when turning back a game challenge from Grade 1 heroine Pretty City Dancer to take the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park The Dorothy Alexander Matz homebred was sent…

Feb 3, 2017

Sunday’s $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park features an exciting match-up between Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) romper Unique Bella and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) champion Champagne Room. Up for grabs is not only first-place purse money…

Feb 3, 2017

Grade 1 heroine Pretty City Dancer takes on eight rivals when she goes in Saturday’s $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2). The seven-furlong contest is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points races and offers points to the respective top four…

Feb 1, 2017

Classic Empire was crowned champion two-year-old male after closing out 2016 with a gutsy neck victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. On Saturday, the Mark Casse pupil returns to competition at Gulfstream Park as part of a nine-horse…

Feb 1, 2017

El Areeb handled two turns with aplomb early in the new year, taking the January 2 Jerome (G3) at Aqueduct by more than 11 lengths. On Saturday, the gray looks to raise his Kentucky Derby (G1) profile even more in the $250,000 Withers (G3) over 1…

Feb 1, 2017

Stakes winners Dangerfield and Term of Art highlight a trio from two-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill in Saturday’s $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, the Lewis offers points on a 10-4-2-1…

Feb 1, 2017

A big weekend awaits with three Kentucky Derby preps, including the return of early favorite Classic Empire in the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The unanimous 2-year-old champion is expected to receive three prep races in advance of the Run for the…

Jan 31, 2017

Saturday's $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park has been eagerly anticipated for weeks as it will mark the sophomore debut of juvenile champion and early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Classic Empire. Winner of the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill…

Jan 30, 2017

You could say that Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful McCraken is bred for a classic. In his case, the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) factors prominently in his pedigree. Contested over the Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles, at rotating host tracks, the Breeders’…

Jan 29, 2017

Champion Classic Empire edged the unbeaten duo of Mastery and McCraken for the role of individual favorite in Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but the ever-popular "All Others" bet was the fans' choice after three days of betting.

Jan 29, 2017

Final odds and $2 win and exacta will-pays for 2017's Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2

Jan 28, 2017

Arrogate delivered another monstrous performance in the inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park, accelerating to the lead on the far turn and rolling to a convincing 4 ¾-length tally in the world’s richest race. Trained…

Jan 27, 2017

The roster of 3-year-olds nominated to the 2017 Triple Crown has grown to 419 with the addition of Bourbon Lane Stable's Bourbon Empire, who was inadvertently omitted from the roster of early nominees.

Jan 27, 2017

Continued from Part 1 on the European nominees After Churchill Downs Inc. and the Japan Racing Association devised a “ Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby,” and the New York Racing Association followed up by offering a $1 million bonus to a Japanese-based…

Jan 27, 2017

As America’s iconic Thoroughbred race, the Kentucky Derby (G1) attracts interest from much further afield. This year, of a total of 418 three-year-olds nominated to the U.S. Triple Crown, 18 are internationally based. While it remains to be seen how many…

Jan 24, 2017

John C. Oxley’s 2-year-old champion Classic Empire (#3) is the individual favorite to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), but the Mutuel Field (#24), or “All Others,” is expected to continue its traditional role as the overall betting choice in Pool 2 of Churchill Downs’ 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”) that begins a three-day run on Friday, Jan. 27.

Jan 24, 2017

Champion juvenile Classic Empire heads an international roster of 418 3-year-old Thoroughbreds nominated to compete in the races of the 2017 Triple Crown series, which opens with the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) on Saturday, May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Jan 24, 2017

Guest Suite won his first attempt in a Kentucky Derby qualifier, rallying from midpack to score a 1 ¼-length decision in the January 21 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. Held at a mile and 70 yards on a muddy track, the Lecomte awarded points on a 10-4-2-1 scale…

Jan 24, 2017

Barring any defections due to injuries and such, the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard will remain static for a couple weeks following last Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. Contested at one mile and 70 yards, the Lecomte had a field of…

Jan 23, 2017

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Classic Empire, currently atop the Kentucky Derby (G1) points leaderboard, officially became a champion at Saturday night’s Eclipse Awards gala at Gulfstream Park . Receiving all 248 first-place votes for the champion two-year-old…

Jan 22, 2017

The force that is California Chrome ruled the night during Saturday evening’s 46th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at Gulfstream Park. The popular chestnut earned his second Horse of the Year title, the first coming in 2014 when he captured the Kentucky…

Jan 22, 2017

Coffeepot Stables’ homebred Farrell posted an easy 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $145,500 Silvebulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, which saw the Wayne Catalano pupil jump from ninth position on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard to third. Farrell, the 4-5…

Jan 21, 2017

Trainer Neil Howard's enthusiasm for Guest Suite ahead of Saturday's $200,000 Lecomte (G3) was apparently so infectious, the three-year-old gelding was bet down from a 5-1 morning line price and started as the 5-2 favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1)…

Jan 20, 2017

Seven fillies will be vying for 17 total points on Saturday in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, the next race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The mile-and-70-yard contest takes place at Fair Grounds, which is known for producing Kentucky Oaks (G1)…

Jan 18, 2017

The first of three qualifying races at Fair Grounds, Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte (G3) features a contentious field of 12 competing for a total of 17 points (10-4-2-1 scale) toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Untrapped, a runaway last-out maiden…

Jan 17, 2017

Uncontested ran to his name in Monday’s Smarty Jones, dominating the one-mile event over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park, and kudos to the Wayne Catalano-trained colt for a visually-impressive performance. The dark bay received a solid 97 BRIS Speed rating…

Jan 17, 2017

Before the potential re-emergence of some of last year’s leading juveniles and Kentucky Derby point earners early next month, the second half of January will see some fresh faces enter the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard Top 20. The process already began Monday…

Jan 16, 2017

Uncontested, the 6-5 favorite against seven rivals, rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory in Monday's $150,000 Smarty Jones, opening leg of Oaklawn Park's four-race series of Kentucky Derby (G1) preps. A son of Tiz Wonderful, Uncontested was sent to the…

Jan 15, 2017

Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Lockdown not only triumphed in her stakes debut on Sunday but also debuted on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with 10 points thanks to that effort. The Bill Mott-trained Lockdown marked her first try against stakes rivals in the…

Jan 13, 2017

Libby’s Tail currently ranks 14th on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with five points and will seek to move up the list on Sunday as part of a five-horse field entered in the Busanda Stakes. The mile-and-70-yard contest is part of the Road to the Kentucky…

Jan 13, 2017

Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones is the first of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races at Oaklawn Park and eight 3-year-olds will compete for a total of 17 points (10-4-2-1 scale) in the one-mile event. The Hot Springs, Arkansas track will also offer the…

Jan 12, 2017

The 2017 Smarty Jones Stakes will emanate from Oaklawn Park on Monday, January 16th as a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race. The top-four finishers will earn points worth 10-4-2-1 towards entering the Kentucky Derby (G1). The one mile long Smarty Jones…

Jan 10, 2017

Thanks to the presence of Gormley and American Anthem, the January 7 Sham (G3) at Santa Anita may wind up being a key race. It certainly was a fast race. Gormley proved best on this occasion, edging American Anthem by a short head on the wire over…

Jan 10, 2017

Fund for the Arts and Churchill Downs Call for Artists to Submit Proposals to Participate in Local Arts Celebration to Kick Off 2017 Derby Week LOUISVILLE, Ky. (January 4, 2017) - Fund for the Arts and Churchill Downs invite local artists and cultural…

Jan 10, 2017

With only four point-scoring opportunities (two of them have been run already), there won’t be any dramatic shifts in position on the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) points leaderboard during the month of January.The one significant change to have occurred in the…

Jan 8, 2017

Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella proved much the best while making her stakes bow in Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained daughter of Tapit tracked the early pace while four wide, ranged up on the…

Jan 7, 2017

Jerry and Ann Moss’ Gormley just stuck his head in front of even-money favorite American Anthem to take Saturday’s $100,690 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park with jockey Victor Espinoza aboard. The bay son of Malibu Moon kept the pressure on pacesetter American…

Jan 6, 2017

Santa Anita Park’s $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) brings the Road to the Kentucky Oaks into the New Year on Sunday, offering 10-4-2-1 points to the top four finishers toward a starting berth in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. The seven-furlong…

Jan 5, 2017

Grade 1 winner Gormley heads a field of seven in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham (G3) at Santa Anita. As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, the one-mile race offers points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four respective finishers. A convincing debut…

Jan 2, 2017

Earning 10 qualifying points for Kentucky Derby (G1) eligibility couldn't have looked easier for El Areeb, who ran away from six rivals and won Monday's $150,000 Jerome (G3) at Aqueduct by 11 1/4 lengths under jockey Trevor McCarthy. The Jerome was…

Dec 30, 2016

Shadwell Stable’s homebred Takaful, who tired to third as the 4-5 favorite in the November 26 Remsen (G2), hopes to bounce right back in Monday’s $150,000 Jerome S. (G3). A mile-and-70-yard affair on Aqueduct’s inner track, the Jerome is the first Kentucky…

Dec 14, 2016

First Kentucky Artist to Create the Derby’s Officially Licensed Artwork LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016) – Churchill Downs today released the 2017 “Official Art of the Kentucky Derby” by award-winning American and Kentucky painter Jim Cantrell. Cantrell…

Dec 12, 2016

Yet another Kentucky Derby winner joined Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm’s band of pensioned stallions on Monday. 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes hero Charismatic was paraded around a paddock at the Georgetown, Kentucky, facility on Monday…

Dec 11, 2016

Cheyenne Stables LLC’s Mastery romped by 7 1/4 lengths on Saturday as the 1-5 favorite in the $300,000 CashCall Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos. By doing so, the dark bay son of Candy Ride made his debut on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard in the fifth spot…

Dec 11, 2016

Clearsky Farms’ homebred Abel Tasman ran down 4-5 favorite American Gal to capture Saturday’s $301,380 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos. The Simon Callaghan pupil swung wide on the turn of the 1 1/16-mile contest as American Gal set her sights on pacesetter…

Nov 27, 2016

With the Kentucky Derby still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 6-5 favorite and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) winner Classic Empire the 6-1 individual choice in the four-day Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Nov 27, 2016

There were a pair of Kentucky Oaks (G1) points races on offer Saturday and both contests saw the favorites run second to a pair of wire-to-wire winners. At Churchill Downs, Coffeepot Stables’ homebred Farrell provided a 10-1 upset of the Golden Rod Stakes…

Nov 26, 2016

McCraken made it three-for-three over the Churchill Downs strip this year winning Saturday's $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), stamping himself as a leading Kentucky Derby (G1) contender over the same track next May. The off-the-pace, 1 1/4-length…

Nov 26, 2016

Mo Town picked up 10 points toward a possible berth in the 2017 Kentucky Derby with a convincing victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, scoring by 2 ½ lengths in his stakes debut. A 7-length maiden winner in his previous outing for…

Nov 26, 2016

Mont Saint Legame, a son of 2002 Kentucky Derby (G1) participant Came Home, became the first horse ever to earn Derby points in Japan when taking Saturday’s Cattleya Sho at Tokyo. Sent off at 5-1 in the allowance over a metric mile, Mont Saint Legame…

Nov 25, 2016

Unbeaten in a pair of starts, McCraken will seek to accumulate points toward a possible Kentucky Derby berth when he lines up for Saturday’s $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. The Ian Wilkes-trained colt heads a field of 12 in the 1 1/16-mile…

Nov 25, 2016

Overlooked at 12-1 in a smashing debut performance, Takaful is listed as the overwhelming 7-5 morning line favorite for his second career outing in Saturday’s $300,000 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile race is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby”…

Nov 25, 2016

In addition to points scoring races for Kentucky Derby (G1) bound colts, Kentucky Oaks (G1) bound fillies will have a pair of points opportunities Saturday at Churchill Downs and Aqueduct. Both races will award Oaks qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 to their…

Nov 24, 2016

The Cattleya Sho, the first Kentucky Derby (G1) points race in Japan, will be contested Saturday (Friday night at 12:15 a.m. EST). Last year, this allowance over Tokyo’s metric mile was a launching pad for Lani, who went on to compete in all three jewels…

Nov 21, 2016

Tapit, North America’s clear-cut leading stallion with 2016 earnings of more than $18.3 million, is the 10-1 individual favorite in the morning line odds for the second annual Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager,which opens its four-day run on Thanksgiving Day.

Nov 21, 2016

Wagering on Albaugh Family Stables’ Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Not This Time (#16), winner of Churchill Downs Iroquois (GIII), has been suspended for the first of four pools of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager,

Nov 21, 2016

John C. Oxley’s Classic Empire (#2) is the favored individual, but the Mutuel Field (#24), or “All Others,” is the strong morning line favorite for the first of four pools of the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”), which opens its four-day run on Thanksgiving Day.

Nov 19, 2016

Peacock Racing Stables’ Gunnevera looped the field from last to first to win Saturday’s $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3), scoring a financial windfall as well as 10 points toward next May’s Kentucky Derby (G1). Trained by Antonio Sano and piloted by…

Nov 19, 2016

Shane's Girlfriend ran off the screen in Saturday's $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3), setting not only a stakes-record margin of victory but also a stakes-record time in the one-mile Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep. Tracking in second behind longshot Flatter…

Nov 18, 2016

Ten juvenile fillies have been entered to go a mile on Saturday in the Delta Downs Princess (G3), and half the field is exiting a win of some sort. First up are Golden Mischief, Chanel’s Legacy and Dude Fantasy, who all captured a stakes in their last…

Nov 17, 2016

The November 5 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) presumably clinched the title of champion two-year-old male for Classic Empire, but the divisional action is far from over. Indeed, it now shifts into another gear, as the later developing juveniles begin to assert…

Nov 17, 2016

Capital Project Creates More Than 1,800 New Seats on North End of Facility  Up to 36 New Luxury Suites Will Host 1,140 Guests in Groups of Various Sizes Event Space on Each of Three Levels Will Provide Interior Dining for 576 Guests Project Includes…

Nov 17, 2016

Fans Will Save More Than 25 Percent on Purchase of Derby and Oaks General Admission Tickets Through Dec. 31.  General admission tickets for the 2017 celebrations of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill…

Nov 10, 2016

Classic Empire and Not This Time were separated by a neck on the wire of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, with a big gap back to third, and the results perfectly illustrate the current landscape for the 2017 Kentucky Derby. It’s basically the top two and all…

Nov 6, 2016

John C. Oxley’s Classic Empire stamped himself an early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite thanks to a gutsy neck victory in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. The Mark Casse trainee pressed early pacesetter Syndergaard through an opening…

Nov 6, 2016

Champagne Room was sent off the second longest shot on the board at 33-1 in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita Park, but ran like a favorite when triumphing by three parts of a length under jockey Mario Gutierrez. Champagne…

Nov 3, 2016

A field of 11 two-year-old colts and geldings will line up on Saturday in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and four are all seeking to keep their records perfect in the 1 1/16-mile affair. Theory owns just two starts thus far but captured both easily.…

Nov 2, 2016

Unlike in past years, there’s no real standout in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). There’s no Songbird, no Beholder, no My Miss Aurelia. Instead, each and every one of the dozen two-year-old lasses lining up on Saturday at Santa Anita…

Oct 20, 2016

Two of the last three Kentucky Derby winners, California Chrome and Nyquist, will meet in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 4. They are among eight Kentucky Derby alumni expected for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup. Named Horse of…

Oct 18, 2016

Latest Capital Project to Improve Venue Flow and Customer Service More Food and Beverage Offerings, Restrooms, Betting Windows and Flat-Screen TVs Enlarged Champions Bar and New TSC Elite Gold Room with Adjoining Covered Balconies New Aristides Lounge…

Oct 9, 2016

Classic Empire and Practical Joke would have nearly identical records of being three-for-three if not for Classic Empire dumping his rider at the start of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in early September. That’s the only blemish on the Pioneerof…

Oct 9, 2016

Yellow Agate and Dancing Rags each took the first step toward a starting berth in next spring’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) with big Grade 1 wins over the weekend. Yellow Agate, trained by Christophe Clement for China Horse Club and ridden by Manny Franco, was…

Oct 7, 2016

Two fields of six juveniles each will line up Saturday at Belmont Park and the winners of each contest will receive points toward starting berths in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1). Belmont hosts the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1), worth…

Oct 2, 2016

On Saturday at Santa Anita Park, a pair of juvenile races offered the winners both guaranteed berths to the Breeders’ Cup on November 5 and points toward a spot in the starting gates for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) next spring at Churchill Downs. Those…