The former Derby Trial (gr. III), a one-mile race for 3-year-olds generally run on opening day of the spring meet at Churchill Downs, has been moved to the first Saturday in May and renamed the Pat Day Mile.
Racing needs to break down the breakdowns. read blog
Promise Me Silver put away 7-5 favorite Unbridled Reward down the stretch to win the $108,300 Debutante Stakes and became the second Texas-bred filly in a row to win the race for trainer Bret Calhoun June 21 at Churchill.
Stakes winner Silver City was represented by his first winner as a stallion when his 2-year-old daughter Promise Me Silver won the third race at Lone Star Park in her career debut May 11.
Embellishing Bob, stepping up into graded stakes company off a maiden win, won the Derby Trial (gr. III) on the disqualification of Bayern under the lights on the opening night of the Churchill Downs spring meet April 26.
TimeformUS Stakes Plays from Keeneland and Churchill read blog
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Derby Trial Stakes. read blog
As usual, trainer Bob Baffert has the racing world hanging on his every move leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), even as he enters horses in the April 26 Derby Trial (gr. III).
Total purses for the 2014 Spring Meet stakes events reflect an increase of 2.7% from 2013.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
If Forty Tales is to achieve further fame it is far more likely that it will be as a sprinter rather than in the Classics.
The makeup of the grade III Derby Trial presents several interesting scenarios that could impact the makeup of the Kentucky Derby field.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
This year's sloppy renewal of The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial lacked a Kentucky Derby hopeful but may have produced a classic prospect in Hierro.
Stonestreet Stables' Hierro broke his maiden over the Churchill Downs main track as a juvenile and returned a winner under the Twin Spires April 28 in the $200,000 The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial (gr. III).
Led by Zayat Stable's talented but lightly raced Paynter, a field of 11 sophomores was entered in the $200,000 The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial (gr. III) on opening night of the Churchill Downs spring meet April 28.
Trinniberg, though 17th on the current graded stakes earning list that determines the 20 starters in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will likely pass the race.
Valor Farm has the first foal by its stallion Silver City. The filly out of the Dixieland Band mare Delta Band.
Multiple grade II winner Kensei, a half brother to champion Lookin At Lucky, was euthanized Aug. 23 after breaking down during a gallop over the Belmont Park training track.
Review graded stakes from Independence Day weekend. View Slideshow
Winless since August, 2009 and dismissed at 15-1 against an accomplished field, Kensei sprung a big upset in the $200,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III) when he came from off the pace under Edgar Prado to win July 2 at Monmouth Park
Morning Line, winner of the seven-furlong Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct in his last start, heads a field of seven in the Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park.
This year's Met Mile features a deep field of 11. Can you predict the order of finish from first to last? Predict the Order
Courtlandt Farm's homebred Machen came roaring down the center of the track and ran down Dominus in the final jump to win the Derby Trial (gr. III) by a neck April 30 on opening night at Churchill Downs.
The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial (gr. III) isn't much of a Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trial anymore, but that has not prevented the race from drawing a strong mix of sprinters/milers on opening night at Churchill Downs.
Sunland Derby runner-up Astrology could bypass the Derby and aim for the Preakness
The first day of Churchill Downs' 39-day spring meet April 30 will take place under the lights with the first of 11 live races scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The first-time event is simply billed as "Opening Night."
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Checklist | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Gato Go Win | Robert Troeger |
|
| Hull | Dale L. Romans |
|
| Kensei | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Rendezvous | Jerry Hollendorfer |
|
| Santana Six | Nicholas P. Zito |
|
| Silver City | W. Bret Calhoun |
|
| Tintim Por Tintim | Walter Rosas-Canessa |
|
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Mile S. (gr. II) | GG |
| Texas Mile S. (gr. III) | LS |
| Snow Chief S. | HOL |
| Melair S. | HOL |
| Tiznow S. | HOL |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Azalea S. | DED | |
| Islamorada H. | GP | |
| Downthedustyroad Breeders S. | OP | |
| Cat Cay S. | AQU | |
| Tom Fool H. (gr. III) | AQU |
