I Want Revenge, who overcame a poor start and significant traffic concerns to win the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 4, emerged the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) as the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager completed its four-day run.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
The morning after the scratch of pre-race favorite The Pamplemousse from the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) due to a tendon flare-up, co-owner Alex Solis II, said the promising colt is off the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trail.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Morning line favorite The Pamplemousse was scratched from the Santa Anita Derby early on the morning of the race by trainer Julio Canani after a state veterinarian check turned up a possible physical problem that needed further examination.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Edward P. Evans' Quality Road, winner of the Florida Derby (gr. I) for his third victory in four career races, remained the favorite to win the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on May 2 as the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager reached its midway point on the evening of April 3.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Featuring previews of the Santa Anita Derby (including words from Bob Baffert and Julio Canani), Wood Memorial, and Illinois Derby, and recaps of the Florida Derby and the UAE Derby. Plus, updates on Charitable Man and Dunkirk.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Saturday's big three Kentucky Derby preps should be pretty formful, with one or two standouts in each race. But, there's a lot more to these races than who is going to win. While they are all prestigious events, let's not forget the fact that they are indeed preps.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Quality Road justified his status as the morning line choice for the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW") when racing fans across North America made the Jimmy Jerkens-trained colt a tepid 5-1 favorite during the April 2 opening day of betting in the four-day pool.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Jason, Suzanne, and the Wizard analyze the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and the Santa Anita Derby.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Trainer Julio Canani says The Pamplemousse doesn't need the lead to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4. After a couple of interesting developments when entries were taken, that theory could be put to the test.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The Pamplemousse, with his regular rider Alex Solis aboard, turned in a sharp final tune-up March 31 for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). The 3-year-old son of Kafwain worked three furlongs in :34.80 seconds at Santa Anita Park in California. He was the fastest of 15 workers at that distance.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
On several occasions over the past few years, Todd Pletcher has reached into his hat to pull out a rabbit, and in most cases the trick didn't go quite as planned. Despite some bad hare days, Pletcher has decided to try his luck at prestidigitation once again in Saturday's Florida Derby (gr. I).
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy, the three top choices for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 4, each worked on the track's Pro-Ride racing surface March 25.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Lost in the overwhelming spectacle of the Kentucky Derby and the arduous road leading to Churchill Downs are the little-known ironies and twists of fate that get played out behind the scenes.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Joel Rosario, Santa Anita's third-leading rider, will ride El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) winner Chocolate Candy in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 4, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Pamplemousse, prepping for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and a showdown with Pioneerof the Nile, worked five furlongs on Pro-Ride March 18 in :59 4/5 under regular rider Alex Solis.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A weekend of upsets in important prep races for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) convinced many racing fans to turn to the "all others" option as the mutuel field ended up as the lukewarm 9-2 favorite in the second of three pools in Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Racing fans continue to have a difficult time deciding who should be the favorite in Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager as "all others" edged unbeaten and untested Dunkirk as the narrow choice among 23 betting interests as the pool reached the midpoint of four days of betting on Friday, March 13.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A pair of unbeaten horses and the betting interest that represents "all others" drew the strongest fan support on the opening day of second of three pools in Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Pool 2 of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens its four-day run on Thursday, March 12 and bettors will be able to wager on an exacta for the first time in the pool's 11-year history.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
HRTV's weekly series analyzing the pursuit of the Triple Crown. This week's episode includes recaps of the Fountain of Youth and Sham, a focus on Stardom Bound - comparing her to Winning Colors, a look at the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes, and a preview of the Gotham.
Friday, March 06, 2009
The last Saturday in November is NYRA's farewell to grade I and grade II racing, with the running of the Cigar Mile (gr. I) and the grade II Remsen and Demoiselle Stakes for 2-year-olds. But last year, there was a buzz in the air that had nothing to do with any of those three races.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Trainer Julio Canani insists he doesn't have Derby fever yet. But after the way his The Pamplemousse glided to victory as the 1-2 choice in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Feb. 28, that's going to be more difficult to believe as time marches on toward the first Saturday in May.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
HRTV's weekly series analyzing the pursuit of the Triple Crown. This week's episode includes the News Update - featuring an update on Big Drama, previews of the Fountain of Youth and the Sham, and Siegel's Sleeper - Mr. Hot Stuff.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Pamplemousse, who knocked off favored Square Eddie by two lengths in winning the San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) last month, heads a dozen 3-year-olds entered for the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Feb. 28.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The mutuel field, or "all others" has been the favored wagering interest in every opening pool of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager since its introduction in 1999, and bettors showed little inclination to change that pattern on the first day of the 2009 action.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Because of the owners, trainers and jockeys who frequent The Pamplemousse restaurant near Del Mar in Southern California, co-owner and chef Jeffrey Strauss gets more than his share of tips.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Before we get to this past week's races, including Monday's Smarty Jones Stakes, there is a pedigree pattern developing this year that you don't normally see to this degree.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Pamplemousse went from maiden winner to graded stakes winner Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park, breaking to an early lead and never looking back for an impressive two-length victory in the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds on the Pro-Ride surface.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, looks at the San Rafael Stakes, as the Derby Trail moves to Santa Anita.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Jason and Tom analyze the San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita on January 17. The Wizard's Spotlight Play is Fair Grounds Race 10 on Saturday, January 17.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, looks at recent works for some Derby Hopefuls.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) runner-up Square Eddie makes his highly-anticipated 3-year-old debut Jan. 17 at Santa Anita when he takes on seven rivals in the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
