With the Churchill Downs track soaked from overnight rains, trainer Nick Zito called off the works for three of his five Kentucky Derby (gr. I) candidates Saturday morning and moved them to Sunday – weather permitting. Scheduled to breeze tomorrow are Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner Bellamy Road and the one-two finishers in the Florida Derby (gr. I): High Fly and Noble Causeway.
Saturday, April 30, 2005The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring juvenile auction ended its four-day run Thursday in Central Florida with small declines in gross revenue and average price from last year's sale record highs.
Thursday, April 28, 2005It's that time of the week when things briefly quiet down before the second wave of workouts. With only Consolidator working under the cover of darkness, this is a good time to reflect on how the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) is shaping up so far.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005By Evan I. Hammonds - There have been some gaudy numbers put up over the last couple of weekends by horses and humans alike. Some add spice to the coming Kentucky Derby (gr. I); some show a renewed vigor in the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005As a road trip to Louisville, Ky. for the Kentucky Derby rekindles memories of Smarty Jones' 2004 journey, there are also omens pointing to Afleet Alex as another Triple Crown Trail success story out of Philadelphia Park.
Monday, April 25, 2005Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road, the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 at Churchill Downs Thursday morning. It was the colt's first work since his 17 1/2-length romp in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 9.
Thursday, April 21, 2005Ogden Mills Phipps' Survivalist, winner of the Gotham (gr. III) and runner-up in the Wood Memorial (gr. I), breezed a half-mile in :51 3/5 at Belmont Park Wednesday, after which trainer Shug McGaughey said the colt wasn't likely to run in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Wednesday, April 20, 2005Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito now has jockeys set for all five of his contenders for the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, May 7.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005Chief's Crown, whose paternal grandson Bellamy Road is one of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorites, was named racing's newest chef-de-race stallion.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005Trainer Nick Zito said Robert V. LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero, third in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), will stay away from the Kentucky Derby excitement (gr. I) at Churchill Downs until just before the race.
Monday, April 18, 2005There was no one on Bellamy Road (also known as the Aqueduct stretch on Saturday) except one lone traveler who cruised along in isolated splendor as if out for an afternoon joy ride. But the Wood Memorial (gr. I) was not the only big race last weekend, despite what one may think of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
Tuesday, April 12, 2005On the strength of his 17 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct, Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road emerged from a record-smashing third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2005 Kentucky Derby Future Wager as a strong 3-1 favorite to win the famed "Run for the Roses" on May 7.
Sunday, April 10, 2005George Steinbrenner's Bellamy Road became a serious contender for next month's Kentucky Derby (Gr. I) with a stunning 17 1/2-length victory over a half dozen overmatched rivals in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct.
Saturday, April 09, 2005It's now or never for the eight starters entered in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I). If any hope to make it to the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), they must deliver the goods in the Wood, especially with only two of the participants – Bellamy Road and Survivalist – on the top 20 list of graded earnings.
Friday, April 08, 2005Consolidator, Going Wild and Bellamy Road – all considered to be major contenders for the $2 million Kentucky Derby (gr. I) – turned in sharp workouts on Sunday at Churchill Downs in preparation for their final preps for the 131st renewal of the "Run for the Roses" on May 7.
Sunday, April 03, 2005Expect some frazzled nerves on March 19 when the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) picture either becomes crystal clear or gets turned upside down. We saw a sneak preview of the latter last weekend when newcomers High Limit and Bellamy Road dropped out of the sky and caused some big explosions in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and in Florida.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road rocketed onto the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) scene Saturday when he ran off to a 15 3/4-length victory in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park in his first start for new trainer Nick Zito.
Saturday, March 12, 2005Nick Zito, who already has four solid Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders, will try to add to his roster when he sends out the newly acquired Bellamy Road, winner of the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III), in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Saturday.
Thursday, March 10, 2005Consolidator justified his $1.25 million sale price with an impressive performance in winning the $500,000 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland.
Saturday, October 09, 2004Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road, winner of the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III) at River Downs last month, drew post 3 for Saturday's Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland.
Thursday, October 07, 2004The first three finishers in the River Downs' Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III)--Bellamy Road, Diamond Isle, and Scipion--are slated to meet again Saturday in Keeneland's $400,000 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I). The Breeders' Futurity, along with the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) highlight day two of Keeneland's Fallstars Allstars weekend.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004Bellamy Road went wire-to-wire and pulled a minor upset Monday in the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds at River Downs.
Monday, September 06, 2004Virginia Kraft-Payson's Scipion, who impressed observers with a last-to-first victory in his career debut Aug. 14 at Saratoga, drew the rail in a field of eight for the $200,000 Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds Sept. 6 at River Downs.
Friday, September 03, 2004