Six weeks ago, WinStar Farm looked as though it would be without a starter in the upcoming Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Now, the powerful outfit could have three, the final potential starter coming thanks to a eye-catching, last-to-first victory by Advice in the $300,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) April 18 on the Keeneland Polytrack.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
When Doug O'Neill discovered a left front shin injury on Square Eddie in the beginning of February, he figured the colt's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) chances were over. But a speedy recovery and a series of nice works has O'Neill thinking of roses just two months later, and a nice effort in the $300,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) April 18 at Keeneland will likely send the son of Smart Strike on to Louisville.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Keeneland stakes coordinator Tia Borgemenke has 12 horses listed as probable for the April 18 Lexington Stakes (gr. II), headed by 2008 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner Square Eddie.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Behindatthebar wasn't ready for a start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after winning the April 19 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II). But with two more weeks between races under his girth, the Todd Pletcher trainee could be one of the more legitimate contenders for the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
In spite of the shocking news of the Triple Crown trail-ending injury to 2007 juvenile champion male War Pass and the apparent decision to forego the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) for a run in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) by the connections of Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) winner Behindatthebar, a 20-horse field is still being predicted for the 134th Run for the Roses May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Monday, April 21, 2008
With the Derby getting closer, we're doubling up this week to take a look at the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) and mostly to discuss what may turn out to be one of the most important works on this year's Derby trail.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Connections of Racecar Rhapsody are thinking ahead. There's no other explanation for choosing Churchill Downs as the site of his final workout ahead of Keeneland's grade II Coolmore Lexington Stakes.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Jet Set Racing Stable's Tomcito, preparing for Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II), worked three furlongs out of the gate in :34.60 and galloped out a half-mile in :46.80 with Manfreddy Guzman up Tuesday morning at Keeneland.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
When the final weekend of prep races for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was over, some new players had joined the list of contenders based on earnings in graded stakes.
Monday, April 23, 2007
There is still a small crack in the door to get into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Whether anyone in Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) can squeeze in at the last minute is another matter.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
There is still a small crack in the door to get into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Whether anyone in Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) can squeeze in at the last minute is another matter.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Following the defection from the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) of Any Given Saturday, it now looks as if the 1 1/8-mile test at Keeneland also will lose Lane's End (gr. II) winner Hard Spun, who will either go straight to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. II) or point for the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) and Preakness (gr. I).
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
After Market, bred by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod from their dual grade I winner Tranquility Lake, makes his stakes debut in the $100,000-added Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds on the Belmont Park inner turf course Sunday.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Even though the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) is 110 yards shorter than the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), the run to the first turn is the same distance. So who'll be running on the lead when they start turning left? And will speed hold up again?
Thursday, April 20, 2006
A sloppy track at Keeneland Saturday brought out the best in Peachtree Stable's surprising Coin Silver, who romped to victory in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stake (gr. III) in his stakes debut.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Robert and Beverly Lewis' Going Wild, runner-up in the Santa Catalina (gr. II) and winner of the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, tuned up for a run in Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland with a five furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor arrived at Keeneland Sunday night to begin preparations for his next scheduled start in Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II), the final prep for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Monday, April 18, 2005
Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor, who is still on target for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), worked seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 at Oaklawn Park Sunday, after which, trainer John Servis said the colt would pass the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) and point instead to the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) a week later.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Rick Porter, owner of Rockport Harbor, said that although the colt is doing much better after suffering his third setback of the year, he is 50-50 at best to make the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and that the April 23 Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland appears to be the more likely spot at this time."
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Trainer John Servis made a phone call Monday morning, a phone call he didn't really want to make. Servis called the Keeneland racing office to nominate Rockport Harbor to the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) scheduled for April 23 at the Lexington, Ky. track.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Tracy Farmer's Sun King, winner of both his starts this year including the Tampa Bay Derby, breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 at Churchill Downs Monday in preparation for the April 16 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, April 04, 2005
Icy Atlantic survived a stretch-long duel with Mustanfar by a nose, but the 9-5 favorite couldn't withstand a stewards' inquiry. Mustanfar was declared the winner of the $111,100 Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park Sunday through disqualification.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Quintons Gold Rush paved his way into the 2004 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), turning in an impressive performance in Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Keeneland.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
An oversized field of 15, including one also-eligible, was entered for Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II), which will be the final prep to determine who will be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Thursday, April 15, 2004
A handful of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) hopefuls were out for workouts over Santa Anita's fast main track on Monday, including Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) hopeful Pomeroy, who went five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in company with stablemate Tarkovsky, who was given the same final time.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Stan Fulton's Fire Slam and Padua Stable's Quintons Gold Rush turned in sharp efforts in their final tune-ups at Churchill Downs for Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Gotham Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Pomeroy, gearing up for his next start in the April 17 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland, worked six furlongs in 1:14 3/5, breezing, in company with stablemate Tarkovsky, who was clocked in 1:14 2/5, over Santa Anita's fast main track Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Stan Fulton's Fire Slam, winner of the Lecomte (gr. III) at the Fair Grounds, breezed five furlongs under new rider Pat Day on Tuesday at Churchill Downs in preparation for a run in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) on April 17 at Keeneland.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Stan Fulton's Fire Slam, winner of the Lecomte (gr. III) at the Fair Grounds, breezed five furlongs under new rider Pat Day on Tuesday at Churchill Downs in preparation for a run in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) on April 17 at Keeneland.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Gotham Stakes (gr. III) runner-up Pomeroy arrived back at trainer Patrick Biancone's Santa Anita base late Tuesday night and will now begin preparations for his next start in the $325,000 April 17 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Jockey Richard Migliore implored Sharp Impact for everything he had to hold off second-place Hidden Truth and win the $150,000 Lexington (gr. III) at Belmont on Sunday.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Trainer Neil Howard looks forward to Saratoga later this month, but he still has business at Belmont Park with his up-and-coming 3-year-old turf standout Hidden Truth in Sunday's Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT).
Friday, July 11, 2003
Tom Durant's Most Feared tuned up for a run in Sunday's Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland with a sharp five-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Monday, April 14, 2003
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has started more horses in the Kentucky Derby than any trainer in history and has won the "Run for the Roses" four times, but he is down to his final candidate for Derby 129 in Robert and Beverly Lewis' Scrimshaw.
Monday, April 14, 2003
Fog City Stables' Ocean Terrace, who finished last of nine in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 5 after setting a quick early pace, was back on the work tab Sunday morning. He logged a five-furlong move in 1:00 2/5 while breezing over the Southern California oval under regular exercise rider David Rodriguez.
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Chiselling, whose career got off to a slow start when he lost his first three races, overcame a tardy break to win the Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT) by a nose for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and Hall of Famers Jerry Bailey and Bobby Frankel.
Sunday, July 14, 2002
The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Proud Citizen earns a Kentucky Derby berth after winning the Lexington .
Saturday, April 20, 2002
Officer is out of Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) because of a "suspicious area" discovered on his left front tendon.
Friday, April 19, 2002
A slight chance remains that the Thoroughbred Corp.'s Officer will run in the Kentucky Derby, but trainer Bob Baffert first needs to see an impressive performance in Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
Wednesday, April 17, 2002
James Cassels and Bob Zollars' Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Private Emblem arrived at Churchill Downs Sunday morning to continue preparing for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Sunday, April 14, 2002
While many Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders were in action Saturday in one of the three major prep races, Perfect Drift and Ethan Man simply put in morning works in Louisville.
Saturday, April 13, 2002
Though supplemented to the Arkansas Derby after being scratched from last Saturday's Illinois Derby, One Tuff Fox won't be making the trip to Oaklawn Park afterall.
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
The Kentucky Derby picture may not be getting any clearer, but at least all the combatants are lined up for their final engagement to determine who goes on to the big battle.
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Following Officer's six-length romp in the restricted Zany Tactics Stakes at Santa Anita Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert is considering the 1 1/16-mile Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland for the colt's next start.
Sunday, April 07, 2002
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Easyfromthegitgo will have his final Kentucky Derby prep in the April 20 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland. Meanwhile, 11 3-year-olds entered Wednesday's Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and the ever-changing list of horses probable for the April 13 Arkansas Derby (gr. II) is currently down to 10.
Saturday, April 06, 2002
Sharp Performance, rising to the stakes ranks after winning an allowance and maiden race in consecutive starts, scored a one-length victory Sunday in the $150,000 Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park.
Sunday, July 15, 2001
The talent pool of this year's crop of 3-year-olds runs deep, as witnessed over the last few weeks in major Kentucky Derby (gr. I) prep races. An armada of lesser crafts set out April 21 at Keeneland for the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) to test the waters one final time before the main event takes place at Churchill Downs in two weeks. Instead of a boat race, the majority of them found choppy seas and roiling water that all but grounded their Derby dreams on the rocks. Just the opening of the starting gate alone had several starters bailing instead of sailing.
Saturday, April 21, 2001
Probable Derby favorite Point Given is scheduled to arrive at Churchill late Wednesday morning after working a quick half-mile at Santa Anita on Tuesday. The work in :46 4/5 was the fastest of the day for 26 horses working at the distance. Meanwhile, working at Churchill Downs on a brisk and windy morning Tuesday was Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Fifty Stars, who finished second in the Lone Star Derby in his most recent effort. With jockey Donnie Meche aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, the colt breezed a half-mile in :50.
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
He's the last chance for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas to participate in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, but his trainer says Turnberry Isle will have to earn his way into the starting gate on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Irish-bred son of Deputy Minister is scheduled to run in Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) at Keeneland and Lukas said Monday that a good performance by the colt in that 1 1/16-mile race could put him in the Kentucky Derby. If so, that would keep Lukas' record streak of Derby participation alive. The four-time Kentucky Derby winner has started at least one horse in every Derby since 1981.
Monday, April 16, 2001
Paraneck Stable's recent Lafayette Stakes (gr. III) winner Griffinite will race next in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) on April 21 at Keeneland, according to trainer Jennifer Pedersen. "He had been training awesomely," Pedersen said. "We were very happy for the win, but we knew that it was a just a prep for the Lexington. He came out of the race full of himself. He knows he won."
Saturday, April 14, 2001
