Jason, Evan, and the Wizard analyze the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II). Plus, thoughts on the Kentucky Derby field.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
California stars Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy, the first two finishers in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4, arrived at Churchill Downs April 16 to prepare for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, April 16, 2009
On April 26, after the dedication of the Barbaro memorial sculpture at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Museum will open a tribute exhibit, Barbaro: The Heart of a Winner.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
This week's And They're Off is all about the Kentucky Derby, including the prospects of the California horses, the depth of the field, musical jockeys, graded earnings, and last but not least, the winners of the Kentucky Derby Contest.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile had his final workout at Santa Anita on a blustery but sun-drenched morning April 15, busting four furlongs on the Pro-Ride racing surface in a bullet :46 1/5, the fastest of 39 drills at the distance.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009Steve Haskin's blog, Hangin' with Haskin goes live on Wednesday, April 15 from 4-6 PM ET to discuss the Kentucky Derby.
Wednesday, April 15, 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
Four-time Churchill Downs' riding champion Julien Leparoux has been named to ride owner/trainer Tom McCarthy's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner General Quarters in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
We're getting close to judgment day -- finding that single horse or betting angle or most attractive overlay possibilities. Until the horses can be observed in the flesh starting next week, here are some of the most memorable moments on this year's Derby trail in one person's opinion that will help in finding potential overlays.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bo Hirsch's homebred Papa Clem, winner of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park April 11, arrived at Churchill Downs April 14 to continue his preparation for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
David Lanzman and IEAH Stables' I Want Revenge, the possible favorite for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in his first serious training move since his arrival at Churchill Downs when he worked an easy half-mile over a muddy track on April 14.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
General Quarters, Papa Clem make list after big wins in Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friesan Fire, one of the top choices for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed five furlongs at Keeneland the morning of April 14.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
No decision has been made on whether Mafaaz will be pointed toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Monday, April 13, 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
Like all quarters, General Quarters is a two-sided coin. So far, it's only come up heads, with the face of Tom McCarthy and his Cinderella story receiving all the press. But a flip of the coin to the tails side will reveal the faded and forgotten face of Mark Miller.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Chocolate Candy, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), worked five furlongs under new rider Mike Smith on Pro-Ride in :59 1/5 April 12. The son of Candy Ride is scheduled to leave April 14 for Louisville to prepare for the 135th Kentucky Derby.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Southern California shipper Papa Clem outfought even-money choice Old Fashioned in a thrilling stretch duel at Oaklawn Park to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) by a half-length April 11.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The connections of favored Hold Me Back were gracious in defeat following the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland April 11 and looking forward to running their colt next in the Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) in three weeks. The 3-year-old son of Giant's Causeway finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winning longshot, General Quarters, while carrying the colors of Bill Casner's and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm, which bred the colt in partnership with Haras Santa Maria de Araras.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Some thought General Quarters' Sam F. Davis (gr. III) win two starts back was a fluke. But the son of Sky Mesa proved them wrong by powering to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11 at Keeneland, and he will now head to next month's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) as a legitimate contender.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
HRTV's weekly series analyzing the pursuit of the Triple Crown. This week's edition includes previews of the Arkansas Derby and Blues Grass Stakes, and recaps of the Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, and Illinois Derby.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) runner-up Square Eddie, who had been expected to train up to the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), instead will first run in the April 18 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland, if all goes well following a scheduled six-furlong workout April 11 at Hollywood Park.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Quality Road, who had been battling a quarter crack since his victory in the Florida Derby (gr. I), worked a half-mile in :48 3/5 on the Belmont training track Friday and showed no ill effects from his injury, said trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
Friday, April 10, 2009Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, analyzes the Blue Grass and the Arkansas Derby. Plus, join Jason for a live chat at noon Eastern on April 11.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Jason, Evan, and the Wizard analyze the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and the Arkansas Derby (gr. II).
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Shadwell Stable's Mafaaz, who will make his U.S. debut in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11, visited the starting gate April 9 at Keeneland and then galloped a mile and a quarter under exercise rider Miguel Moya.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Starting from the first Derby Dozen, I had Old Fashioned ranked No. 1 for five consecutive weeks, despite many people insisting he hadn't beaten anyone and would not stay the mile and a quarter. Prior to the Rebel, my comment on Derby Dozen concluded with, "Don't expect any fireworks until the Arkansas Derby."
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Hold Me Back was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on April 11 at Keeneland.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
WinStar Farm's Hold Me Back, winner of the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park, was installed as the moderate 3-1 morning-line favorite when 11 horses were entered for the April 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Quality Road's quarter crack suffered in the Florida Derby (gr. I) is much improved, and the colt was out for a gallop Wednesday morning after having his hoof patched, said foot specialist Ian McKinlay.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
With a strong second to Pioneerof the Nile in the April 4 Santa Anita Derby, Chocolate Candy jumps into the top 5 of Haskin's latest Derby Dozen.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I Want Revenge, winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) April 4 at Aqueduct, arrived at Churchill Downs April 7 to begin his training up to the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Foot specialist Ian McKinlay, who was in the news last year dealing with Big Brown's quarter crack prior to the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), is back on the Triple Crown trail once again, treating a lesser quarter crack suffered by Quality Road in the Florida Derby (gr. I).
Monday, April 06, 2009
It's not quite the Sunshine Millions, but this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) is looking like a regional battle between California- and Florida-based horses, who at this point appear on their way to occupying the top four favorite roles in the Run for the Roses.
Monday, April 06, 2009Despite his troubled trip in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 4, IEAH Stables and David J. Lanzman's I Want Revenge was feeling no ill effects the morning of April 5.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s undefeated Charitable Man completed his major work for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 11 by working five furlongs in :59.60 under exercise rider Pat Correa April 5 at Keeneland in Lexington.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
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
Even as he prepares to ship Pioneerof the Nile to Churchill Downs April 14 for the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Bob Baffert says he's still trying to figure out what kind of running style the son of 2003 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Empire Maker possesses.
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
A lack of pace changed the game plan for odds-on choice Pioneerof the Nile, but jockey Garrett Gomez improvised, enabling the son of Empire Maker to hold off Chocolate Candy for a one-length win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on a picture-perfect day in Arcadia, Calif.
Saturday, April 04, 2009These 10 Thoroughbred greats all ran in the Kentucky Derby, but failed to win. How would you rank them?
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, 2009Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, analyzes the Wood Memorial, and the Santa Anita and Illinois Derbies. Plus, join Jason and Dick Downey from the TheDowneyProfile.com for a live chat at noon Eastern on April 4.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Jason, Suzanne, and the Wizard analyze the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and the Santa Anita Derby.
Thursday, April 02, 2009Hull, a recent late nomination to the Triple Crown, remained undefeated on April 2 with a 7 3/4-length allowance win at Turfway Park. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.21 in his second career race.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Adele Dilschneider's Terrain, runner-up in last fall's Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), is scheduled for a five-furlong work on April 4 in preparation for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) according to trainer Al Stall Jr .
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
A field of eight was drawn for the 1 1/8-mile main track test, which is the final Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands prep for 3-year-olds in New York.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
See story for startling revelation and other peeks into this year's Kentucky Derby crystal ball.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009