With trainer Chad Brown watching from the Keeneland boxes, Good Magic gave the two-time Eclipse Award winner reason to stay loose and happy as the chestnut colt cruised through a four-furlong work in :48 flat April 21.
Valadorna followed a career-low finish by posting an all-time best result April 20, when she inched clear in the final stages of the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland to earn her first graded stakes win.
Grade 1 winner Diversify looms the favorite in the field of seven April 21 for the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2), contested around three turns at 1 1/8 miles.
Having started his 6-year-old campaign with three consecutive graded stakes wins, Itsinthepost will look to keep his momentum going April 21 when he faces 12 others in the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) over 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland.
Needing a top-two finish to ensure enough qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), My Boy Jack delivered in the $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland April 14.
Despite facing pressure from Quip on the front end and drifting out in the lane, Magnum Moon proved best in the April 14 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park to remain unbeaten in four starts.
Trainer Brad Cox now has the happy issue of having multiple charges to tend to in their quest for the lilies after Sassy Sienna edged Wonder Gadot by a nose in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park April 13.
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up, each week we will take a look at three things to watch from the 3-year-old division as they head into that weekend's respective prep races.
Less than a year after saddling his first starter, Rodolphe Brisset found himself in the remarkable position of conditioning a leading contender on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when his trainee Quip won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
Currently occupying the 20th spot on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard, My Boy Jack will aim to prove he belongs, literally and figuratively, when he starts in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3).
In the last major prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Magnum Moon will aim to keep touting himself to masses when he and Solomini face seven others in the April 14 $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1).
With the first grade 1 test for turf females of 2018 slated to take place this weekend, it is fitting the two trainers who have wielded the division's strongest hands in recent years have entrants none would be shocked to see prevail.
With a long-awaited top-level victory finally on his past performance lines, Heart to Heart will try to capture the race that has taunted him most when he heads a field of 10 in the $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile (G1T).
In her first start since she captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) in November, Rushing Fall showed who she was in the $200,000 Appalachian Stakes presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) when she drew clear to win by a length.
Champion Good Magic and his caretakers were in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
Reigning juvenile male champion Good Magic took home the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 7 and added 100 points to his Road to the Kentucky Derby total.
Multiple graded stakes winner Finley'sluckycharm won the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) April 7 at Keeneland and retained her spotless record in Kentucky.
Analyze It remained unbeaten and virtually untested in three starts when he notched a 5 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) over the Keeneland grass course April 6.
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up, each week we will take a look at three things to watch from the 3-year-old division as they head into the weekend's respective prep races.
In the aftermath of World Approval's defeat in the March 10 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T), trainer Mark Casse said he hasn't seen the same energy from the champion gelding and is debating whether to start him in the Maker's 46 Mile (G1T).
The first read on how well Rushing Fall carries expectations forward in her 3-year-old season comes April 8, when she makes her season debut in the Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) at Keeneland.
Graded stakes winner Quip will scratch from the April 7 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and will instead head to Oaklawn Park for a start in the Arkansas Derby (G1) April 14, trainer Rodolphe Brisset said.
Finley'sluckycharm will look to remain unbeaten in Kentucky when she faces 12 challengers in the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) going seven furlongs at Keeneland.
Good Magic heads into the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) with 2-1 morning-line favoritism and more on the line than just needing to add to his 34 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Monomoy Girl stands as the 4-5 morning-line choice in the field of seven entered for the 1 1/16-miles Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 7.
Coach Rocks wore down favorite Take Charge Paula to capture the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 31.
Audible doubled down on the form he flaunted during his handy victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) when he kicked on handily in the lane after sitting off a hot pace March 31 to win the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Conquest Big E made an honest man out of his owner when he earned an upset, front-running victory over 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hero Always Dreaming in the Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes (G2) March 31.
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up, each week we will take a look at three things to watch from the 3-year-old division heading into the weekend's prep races.
With his health on track, the process of getting Always Dreaming back to his old self begins March 31 when he makes his return off a seven-month layoff against five other challengers in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes (G2).
On March 31, Audible will try to make even more noise on the Triple Crown trail in the $1.1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, where he was installed as the 9-5 favorite in the field of nine entered.
Just because Mark Hennig came up under the master of the classics in D. Wayne Lukas—who is tied for saddling the most Kentucky Derby starters in history at 48—doesn't mean he is susceptible to the so-called Derby fever.
The already loaded slate of classic contenders on the roster for WinStar Farm got another boost March 24 when Noble Indy, the son of Take Charge Indy owned in partnership with Repole Stable, fought off Lone Sailor to win the Louisiana Derby.
Synchrony sat a stalking rail trip before angling out and blowing past the leaders in midstrech to capture the $300,00 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) March 24.
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up, each week we will take a look at three things to watch from the 3-year-old division as they head into that weekend's respective prep races.
Not only does his Bloom Racing have a leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in multiple graded stakes winner Midnight Bisou, it has a Kentucky Derby candidate in Snapper Sinclair, who starts in the March 24 Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G2).
With qualifying points and dirt credibility now in his pocket, the dark bay colt aims to bolster his sophomore portfolio March 24 as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2).
Magnum Moon remained unbeaten in three starts when he drew off from grade 1-placed Solomini March 17 to score a 3 1/2-length victory in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Blended Citizen rallied up the rail to best Pony Up by a neck in the March 17 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park.
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up, each week BloodHorse.com will take a look at three things to watch from the 3-year-old division as it heads into the weekend's prep races.
Jockey Miguel Mena will be out indefinitely after sustaining a compound fracture of his right ankle and a broken heel as a result of a three-horse spill March 15, his agent, Richie Price, confirmed.
Solomini will aim to make his season debut the latest example of his afternoon aptitude when he faces 10 challengers in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 17.
Fourstar Crook launched herself figuratively and literally toward the forefront of the turf female division when she rallied widest of all down the lane to edge Proctor's Ledge by a head in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2T).
Quip proved all business during his seasonal debut in the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2), where he wore down pacesetter World of Trouble in late stretch to capture the 1 1/16-mile prep race by one length.
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up, each week BloodHorse.com will take a look at three things to watch from the 3-year-old division heading into the weekend's prep races.
When Om starts in the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita March 10, trainer Dan Hendricks won't be mad if his charge once again makes a name for himself by taking down a champion.
For the first time in his young career, Flameaway won't have to adjust to new scenery for his next significant test, as he returns to Tampa Bay Downs March 10 for a start in the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
Free Drop Billy may not have a divisional champion to contend with Saturday, but the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) still presents its share of challenges for the Dale Romans trainee as he heads a field of nine entered.
Promises Fulfilled backed up trainer Dale Romans' faith in the $400,000 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) when the 18-1 shot delivered a gate-to-wire upset over Strike Power and champion Good Magic in the 1 1/16-mile test.
Like so many that have come out of Shug McGaughey's shedrow, Fly So High lived up to her billing in her graded stakes debut to earn a three-length victory in the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) and give her trainer his 2,000th win.
