After bypassing the Preakness, trainer Todd Pletcher has a deep group of possible contenders for the Belmont Stakes, including Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) third-place finisher Unlimited Budget.
Yesterday
Already the most accomplished horse entered in the May 18 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico Race Course, Irish classic winner Samitar appears to be entering top form after flashing a strong late kick in previous effort.
5 days ago
Fear the Kitten will take on Bay Shore Stakes winner Declan's Warrior and Illinois Derby fourth-place finisher Abraham in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park May 11.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled filly Rags to Riches to victory in the 2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), is considering a pair of fillies he trains for this year's 1 1/2-mile classic at Belmont Park.
Monday, May 06, 2013
Trainer Todd Pletcher reflects on his five Derby horses and comments on where they may go next. Todd also explains how he feels about the week as a whole and the Kentucky Oaks.
Princess of Sylmar roared past Beholder in deep stretch to win the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 3 at Churchill Downs. At 38-1, she's the second highest-priced winner in Oaks history.
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Florida Derby winner Orb has Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey excited about the May 4 Kentucky Derby--more excited, said McGaughey, than he's ever been. But 19 other 3-year-olds also have their sights on the Derby.
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Scenes from Kentucky Oaks day, including the race from start to finish.
Padua Stables' Authenticity held off On Fire Baby in a fierce stretch battle to win the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) by a head May 3 at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old mare sets a stakes record of 1:42.09 for 1 1/16-miles.
Friday, May 03, 2013
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Whether Winning Cause is a good horse anywhere else is still to be tested, but he sure likes Keeneland's Polytrack.
It's easy to figure out where Todd Pletcher got the idea to enter five horses in this year's Kentucky Derby. He used to work for D. Wayne Lukas.
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which co-campaigns Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) hopeful Silsita, is happy with the longshot status of his filly who is listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Orb was made the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after drawing post 16 May 1 at Churchill Downs. Verrazano will break from post 14 and is the 4-1 second choice.
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Dreaming of Julia is the freshest on the minds of most leading up to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) due to her extraordinary 21 3/4-length victory in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. I).
Wednesday, May 01, 2013Before an enthusiastic crowd of 500 at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in Louisville, nearly all of the trainers with starters pointing for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) talked about their horses.
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Lenny Shulman discusses which Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders appeared on the track today, when Lines of Battle is expected to arrive, and the weather forecast this weekend.
Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed April 29 that King of Prussia Stable's homebred filly Princess of Sylmar will compete in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). The daughter of Majestic Warrior will be ridden by Mike Smith.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Todd Pletcher will not enter Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III) winner Winning Cause in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Monday, April 29, 2013
In what he surely hopes is an omen for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) a week hence, trainer Todd Pletcher takes the exacta in the Derby Trial on opening night at rainy Churchill Downs April 27.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Verranzano, Palace Malice, Charming Kitten and Revolutionary get baths after working out as trainer Todd Pletcher Watches.
Todd Pletcher takes you through his decision to move his works up to Saturday from Sunday. Then Todd speaks on how his Kentucky Derby contenders worked.
Faced with a scheduling dilemma of wanting to work most of his classic horses in one day, trainer Todd Pletcher sent his contenders for the Kentucky Oaks to the Churchill Downs track shortly after it opened for training.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Steve Haskin talks about all of the works today. Times and brief analysis on Normandy Invasion, Mylute, Black Onyx, Palace Malice, Overanalyze, Revolutionary, Charming Kitten, Verrazano, and more!
A total of eight Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) horses had their final drills the morning of April 27, many of them moved back a day due to the impending rain expected later today and tomorrow.
After watching five of his Derby contenders work April 27, trainer Todd Pletcher said he thought Verrazano and Revolutionary continued steady progress, while Overanzalyze registered his best workout ever.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
In his final breeze for the Kentucky Derby, Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Goldencents breezed six furlongs in 1:16 1/5 April 25 at Santa Anita Park under regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
With three wins April 24, trainer Mike Maker broke the record at Keeneland for victories during the spring meet and now has a total of 19.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013Trainer Todd Pletcher's quartet of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders, Dreaming of Julia, Princess of Sylmar, Silsita, and Unlimited Budget, galloped at Churchill Downs the morning of April 24.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez put his skills as a former rider to use on Tuesday, April 23, riding grade II winner Vyjack on the Churchill Downs main track in preparation for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
In search of his fifth Kentucky Derby (gr. I) victory, trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent out Oxbow for a five-furlong breeze Monday, April 22, at Churchill Downs.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Overwhelmingly favored Kauai Katie led from start to finish for a seemingly effortless 3 1/4-length victory in the $71,250 Road Princess overnight stakes, the closing day feature at Aqueduct Racetrack April 21.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Trainer Todd Pletcher talking about April 21 workouts by Kentucky Derby contenders Revolutionary and Verrazano.
Two of trainer Todd Pletcher's top contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) continued to progress toward the May 4 classic with solid workouts at Churchill Downs the morning of April 21.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Disposablepleasure scored her second 2013 straight victory when she kicked clear in upper-stretch and prevailed by an easy 1 1/2 lengths over Brushed by a Star in the April 20 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Alto Racing's Winning Cause got up in the final strides of the $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III) April 20 at Keeneland, earning 20 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Several contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), including four trained by Todd Pletcher, went to the track at Churchill Downs the morning of April 20 as they continued to work toward the May 3 filly classic.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The public is invited to hear some of the biggest names in racing take the stage April 19 to share their fondest Derby-winning memories.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Out from the shadow of rival Joyful Victory, Brushed by a Star has a chance to shine in the $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne Race Course April 20.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin review the importance of race times, discuss Java's War in the Blue Grass Stakes, review performances of Spicer Cub and Incognito, and present a top 5 list! Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.
Owner Let's Go Stable announced Tuesday, April 16 that grade II winner El Padrino has been retired from racing.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
WinStar Farm, which teamed with jockey Calvin Borel to win the 2010 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with Super Saver, will call on the three-time Derby winner again this year.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Dreaming of Julia, 21 3/4-length winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II), led a trio of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders worked by trainer Todd Pletcher at Churchill Downs the morning of April 14.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Mylute, runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), continued his preparations for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a six-furlong breeze in 1:12 1/5 the morning of Apil 14 at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Overanalyze, rebounding from a lackluster seasonal debut, overpowered his rivals in the drive to easily win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) and stamp his ticket for this year's Run for the Roses.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
After a brief freshening at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Revolutionary arrived at Churchill Downs on April 12.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Starlight Racing reports Shanghai Bobby sustained a pelvic stress fracture exiting the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 30 at Gulfstream Park.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Jockey Javier Castellano has committed to ride Fox Hill Farms' Wood Memorial (gr. I) runner-up Normandy Invasion in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, April 11, 2013
War Academy has been installed as the 2-1 favorite in a field of 10 3-year-olds entered for the 77th running of the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 13 at Oaklawn Park.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II)winner Dreaming of Julia and undefeated Unlimited Budget arrived April 8 at 6:50 p.m. EDT at Churchill Downs, where they will continue their preparations for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Undefeated Wood Memorial winner (gr. I) Verrazano and runner-up Normandy Invasion are headed for a rematch in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, April 07, 2013