Led by impressive True North Handicap (gr. II) winner Trappe Shot, eight older sprinters will try to catapult to the top of the sprint standings in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Aug. 7 at Saratoga.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Giant Ryan ran his winning streak to five races when he collared pacesetting Irrefutable a couple of strides before the wire to win by a neck in the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) July 9 at Calder Race Course.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Noble's Promise made headlines finishing a close third in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and fifth in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Racing across the world, and prepping for the Belmont Stakes.
A little sharper in his second start of the season, Noble's Promise returned to Churchill Downs to post a hard-fought win in the $110,300 Aristides Stakes (gr. III) June 4.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Of the eight entrants drawn for the $100,000 Aristides Stakes (gr. III), not only do all of them have one-turn wins at Churchill Downs, but six of them have stakes wins over the track.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Smiling Tiger, making his first appearance under the Twin Spires since finishing third in last fall's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is the mild favorite in the $300,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) May 7.
Thursday, May 05, 2011R Heat Lightning, the likely Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) favorite, and Kathmanblu braved a steady rain and sloppy track conditions at Churchill Downs to put in timed workouts just after the track maintenance break April 23.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
John Sadler and Joel Rosario completed a sweep of the three graded stakes on the opening day program at Santa Anita Dec. 26 when Twirling Candy nosed Smiling Tiger in a thrilling finish to the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I).
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Santa Anita Park unveils its new natural dirt track Dec. 26 with a quality nine-race card that includes the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I), which drew a well-balanced field of 11 3-year-olds.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The recent retirements of many 2010 stars leaves major question marks for next year.
Canford Cliffs followed up his win in the Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) with a scintillating victory over a top class field in the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot June 15.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Noble's Promise will pass the May 15 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and will point instead for the one-mile St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot
Friday, May 07, 2010
Instead of going into analysis on each horse, I'll keep it succinct and focus only on horses I like best.
No one can boast of having a better slop pedigree than Stately Victor.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Jason, Evan, James Scully, and special guest Jill Byrne preview The Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
The two top choices in the first leg of the 2010 Triple Crown are based in California. Lookin at Lucky, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, and Sidney's Candy, the 5-1 second choice, lead a field of 20 3-year-olds in Derby 136.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Already with a victory in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and now in his fourth Derby, Ken McPeek feels no pressure to win the May 1 race with Noble's Promise.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Lookin At Lucky, the new favorite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), works five furlongs in the mud at Churchill Downs in 1:00 4/5 during a busy day for Derby contenders.
Monday, April 26, 2010
With Eskendereya gone, Todd Pletcher regroups; new favorite Lookin at Lucky lookin' good.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Noble's Promise, the Cuvee colt who has overcome adversity along the Triple Crown trail, has been confirmed for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after a half-mile workout and endoscopic exam April 26.
Monday, April 26, 2010
In light of the defections of Rule and Eskendereya from the contenders list and the confirmation Devil May Care will be entered, here is the list of Derby hopefuls based on graded stakes earnings as of mid-morning April 26.
Monday, April 26, 2010
After the colt's sharop work April 20, the trainer is feeling better about his chances to make the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) starting gate May 1 at Churchill Downs
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Noble's Promise, showing no ill effects from cuts in both front legs from his previous start, registered a bullet workout of :59 4/5 for five furlongs April 20 at Churchill Downs
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Beautician, who is slated to run in the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 in company with her stablemate Noble's Promise, a Derby prospect, at Churchill Downs April 20.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Trainer Ken McPeek said Noble's Promise, who arrived at Churchill Downs April 15 following a van ride from trainer Ken McPeek's Magdelena Farm, is still "on the fence" for the Kentucky Derby.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Robby Albarado, who rode Endorsement to an upset win in the Sunland Derby (gr. III) March 28 and is also the regular jockey for Noble's Promise, has committed to riding Endorsement for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Noble's Promise, a banged-up fifth behind Line of David in the April 10 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) is doing better and will ship to Churchill Downs the morning of April 14 according to trainer Ken McPeek.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Noble's Promise, the 8-5 favorite in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), came out of his fifth-place finish race with cuts on both his front legs suffered while getting squeezed by competitors at the start and on the first turn.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The results of the April 10 Toyota Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby (both gr. I) play role in graded list shakeup
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Red-hot trainer John Sadler captured the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) with front-running upsetter Line of David at Oaklawn Park April 10, just a week after Sadler took the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) with Sidney's Candy.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
This weekend offers the last 2 major Derby preps...Who will make the graded earnings cut and who won't?
Jason, Tom, and James Scully of twinspires.com preview the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and the Arkansas Derby (gr. I).
He's among a trio of leading 3-year-old prospects, including Super Saver and Dublin, headlining the $1 million Arkansas Derby after entries were taken for the April 10 renewal at Oaklawn Park.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Churchill Downs' official list of Kentucky Derby contenders by graded stakes earnings as of April 5.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Eskendereya was the slight betting favorite at the conclusion of the March 26 first day of wagering in the third and final pool of Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Victory in the March 20 Florida Derby (gr. I) propelled Robert LaPenta's Ice Box into sixth position on the graded earnings list of leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Following a "March Madness" style weekend on the track there was plenty of movement in this week's NTRA Thoroughbred Polls released the afternoon of March 15.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Favored Lookin at Lucky, trying blinkers and dirt for the first time in his 2010 debut, won the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park when his late bid produced a neck victory over the stubborn Noble's Promise.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Trainer Bob Baffert brings out his big gun, 2009 juvenile champion Lookin At Lucky, in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park March 13. Now he just wants to be sure the son of Smart Strike is ready to fire.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Noble's Promise worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 March 5 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Ken McPeek as he gets closer to his season debut expected to come in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) next weekend
Friday, March 05, 2010
Because he hasn't yet raced in 2010, Noble's Promise has been a somewhat forgotten Kentucky Derby contender.
The 3-year-old is one of the favorites for the Fountain of Youth (gr. II).
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A look back at last weekend's races and a profile of impressive Fair Grounds allowance winner Hotep.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Vale of York and Lookin At Lucky, the one-two finishers in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), share the high weight assignment of 126 pounds on the 2009 Experimental Free Handicap.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Heavy favorite Lookin At Lucky wrapped up divisional honors as the nation's top 2-year-old after his convincing win in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 19.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires/brisnet, preview the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) on That Handicapping Show.
Ken McPeek and Bob Baffert have a pair of showdowns to look forward to this weekend at Hollywood Park, including the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I).
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Lookin at Lucky and Noble's Promise, two of the leading sophomores in the nation, will meet again in a highly-anticipated edition of the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) Dec. 19 at Hollywood Park
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Trainer Ken McPeek has left his six Breeders' Cup World Championships weekend starters behind for the time being to race during the upcoming Hollywood Park fall meet, he said Nov. 12.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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