Justify Draws Post 7 as 3-1 Derby Choice
Bob Baffert-trained Justify, who has made just three starts, was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after drawing post 7.
Thoroughbred Racing
News, previews, results for major North American Thoroughbred races
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Justify 'a Pro' in First Morning at Churchill Downs
Like everything else in the brief career of grade 1 winner Justify, his first morning at the site of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) was handled with beyond-his-experience poise.
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Bucchero to Try Twin Spires Turf Sprint
Less than a week after Beckford won a Churchill Downs stakes sprinting on the turf to prep for a group 1 at Royal Ascot, Bucchero will look to do the same when the veteran is expected to face 10 rivals in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes.
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Gas Station Sushi Takes Next Step in Eight Belles
West Coast sensation Gas Station Sushi will aim to keep moving forward in the May 4 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies on the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard.
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Always Dreaming Returns to Churchill for Alysheba
Always Dreaming will make his second start of the season May 4 in the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2) at Churchill Downs.
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Radio, Television Schedules for Derby Week
The Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) traditionally receives the most media coverage of any horse race in the world, and the upcoming 144th run for the roses on May 5 at Churchill Downs will be no exception.
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Rushing Fall Looms Large in Edgewood Stakes
With her sea legs under her, Rushing Fall is expected to be even more formidable May 4, when she heads a field of 11 for the $200,000 Edgewood Stakes Presented by Forcht Bank (G3T) at Churchill Downs.
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Free Drop Billy to Spendthrift Upon Retirement
B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm announced April 30 that it will stand grade 1-winning juvenile and Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contender Free Drop Billy at the end of his racing career.
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Monomoy Girl Draws Outside for Kentucky Oaks
Monomoy Girl landed in the far outside post of the 14-horse field entered for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) but was still installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite to take the signature test for 3-year-old fillies.
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Combatant Steady in Half-Mile Work for Kentucky Derby
In his first timed move since running fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Combatant put in a typical week-of-the-race move for trainer Steve Asmussen, rolling through a solo four-furlong breeze in :49 3/5 Monday morning.
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Churchill Earns NTRA Safety Alliance Reaccreditation
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Churchill Downs, home of the world's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, has earned reaccreditation from the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance.
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Hardboot Hammers Home in Silky Sullivan
The one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds bred or sired in California ended with an upset as the son of Lucky Pulpit ran like a horse possessed in the stretch, winning by 1 3/4 lengths.
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Belvoir Bay Takes San Simeon by Two Lengths
Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Belvoir Bay (GB), like many from the barn of trainer Peter Miller, has found a sweet spot sprinting on the grass, particularly down the Santa Anita Park hillside turf course.
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Classic-Producing Third- and Second-Crop Sires
Young sires in North America and Europe are showing potential with progeny headed into the upcoming classics, which are coming in May and June.
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Summer Sunday Keeps Woodbine Record Intact
Despite drifting out to the middle of the track in the lane, Anne and William Scott's Summer Sunday remained undefeated at Woodbine, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in the $125,000 Fury Stakes April 29.
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Kentucky Derby a Tribute to the Best of Scat Daddy
With his sons Justify, Mendelssohn, Flameaway, and Combatant all slated to start in the first leg of the Triple Crown, the impact of the late Scat Daddy lords over the Kentucky Derby this season.
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Caledonia Road Soars in Season Debut at Belmont
Reigning champion 2-year-old filly Caledonia Road returned to racing April 29 and won her season debut by 3 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park.
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Rainbow Line Takes Tenno Sho (Spring)
Rainbow Line (JPN) got through between horses in the final yards to win the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) April 29 at Kyoto Racecourse, narrowly defeating Cheval Grand (JPN) and Clincher (JPN).
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Cracksman Powers Forward to Win Prix Ganay
European champion Cracksman returned to the track in style April 29 with a convincing success in the €600,000 Prix Ganay - Prix de l'Inauguration de ParisLongchamp (G1) at ParisLongchamp.
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Chocolate Martini in Sweet Spot for Oaks
Chocolate Martini, a $25,000 claim at Fair Grounds Feb. 2, takes aim at the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) for trainer Tom Amoss and Double Doors Racing's David Walker and Amanda DaBruzzo.
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Instilled Regard, Solomini Put in Final Derby Works
Six days ahead of the Run for the Roses, Instilled Regard covered five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 at Santa Anita Park.
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Hofburg 'Smooth As Silk' in Half-Mile Breeze
Hofburg was the lone Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) hopeful on the Churchill Downs grounds to put in a timed work April 29, going in company with Villamay during a half-mile breeze in :48 1/5.
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Sunland Park Oaks Winner Blamed Out of Kentucky Oaks
Blamed, winner of the Sunland Park Oaks, has been withdrawn from consideration for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) after a hairline fracture in her right hind pastern was discovered the morning of April 29.
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Florida Derby Moves to Top of Prep Races
Should Audible win this year's Kentucky Derby, it will mark the third straight year the Florida Derby (G1) winner has gone on to win the Louisville classic, a stretch that moved the Gulfstream race to the top of the list of Derby preps.
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Photo Finish for Let It Ride Mom in Whimsical Stakes
Driving the crowd to a frenzy as she dug in at the wire, Let It Ride Mom, with jockey Patrick Husbands aboard, split from midpack in the last seconds of the Whimsical Stakes (G3) for a final time of 1:08.96.
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Dr. Dorr Dominant in Californian Stakes
Jill Baffert's Dr. Dorr continued his ascent up the class ladder with the most impressive victory of his career April 28 in the $200,000 Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
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Queen Blossom Breaks Slump in Santa Barbara Stakes
After longshot Space Cadet made most of the running, stablemate Queen Blossom (IRE) took over when it counted to best Causeforcommotion by a half length over the Santa Anita Park course.
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Brown Has Reason to Smile Heading Into Kentucky Derby
Over the past couple seasons, Chad Brown's operation has put some of the sport's most significant prizes on its mantel.
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Bolt d'Oro to Run in Spendthrift Silks in Derby
The son of Medaglia d'Oro will wear Spendthrift Farm silks in the Kentucky Derby as a gift to B. Wayne Hughes on behalf of the colt's owner and racing partner, Mick Ruis.
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China Horse Club Buys Into Oaks Contender Sassy Sienna
The China Horse Club has purchased an interest in Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Sassy Sienna from Medallion Racing, Sandra Lazaruk, and Jerry McClanahan.
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'Tough' Bravazo Out Early for Lukas in Final Derby Spin
Some of us get up and get at it in the morning, and others sleep in, as "Coach" is wont to say, with the implication being that Derby winners and other success stories are best launched before dawn.
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Mountaineer to Open Race Season May 1
The sound of the bugle calling horses to the races will celebrate the opening day of the 2018 Thoroughbred race meet at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort on Tuesday, May 1 at 7 pm.
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Bolt d'Oro Cruises Through Final Kentucky Derby Work
In his final timed workout for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Ruis Racing's Bolt d'Oro ran an easy half-mile in :48 1/5 at Santa Anita Park.
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Monomoy Girl Sitting on Go After Final KY Oaks Drill
The best-case-scenario campaign Monomoy Girl has obligingly followed since November came one step closer to fruition April 28, when the Tapizar filly put in her final work for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
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Flameaway Whips Through Half-Mile Work
While Flameaway's works are usually more on the solid than flashy end of the spectrum, the chestnut colt let it be known April 28 he was feeling himself in advance of his expected start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
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Free Drop Billy, Promises Fulfilled on Schedule
With his two Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls on different schedules, trainer Dale Romans mapped different workout assignments for Free Drop Billy and Promises Fulfilled April 28 and gave each a passing grade after their Churchill Downs breezes.
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My Boy Jack Finishes Nicely in Five-Furlong Work
In his first workout since he won the April 14 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, My Boy Jack covered five furlongs in 1:03 1/5, with splits of :13 3/5 and :38 2/5.
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Midnight Bisou Breezes for Kentucky Oaks
The Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender breezed six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 April 28 at Santa Anita Park.
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Keeneland Reports Increases in Handle for Spring Meet
Keeneland closed its 2018 spring meet April 27 with an all-sources handle total of more than $157 million.
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Isotherm Cuts Back in San Simeon Stakes
A grade 2 winner at a mile and a quarter, Matthew Schera's Isotherm will try something entirely different in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) April 29 at Santa Anita Park.
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Mom’s On Strike Finds Distance to Her Liking in Bewitch
The added distance of the 1 1/2-mile Bewitch Stakes (G3T) proved a good fit for Mom's On Strike, who took command in midstretch on her way to a 3 1/4-length victory April 27 at Keeneland, closing day of the spring meet.
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Handicapping the Last Saturday in April
On the first Saturday in May, Bob Baffert will saddle Justify as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Before that, though, comes the last Saturday in April.
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Santa Anita Shifts First Post Time Beginning May 3
Beginning Thursday, May 3, first post time on all Santa Anita Park live racing days, excepting three Triple Crown Saturdays, will be at 12:30 p.m. PT.
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Pletcher Quartet Put in Final Pre-Derby Works
Magnum Moon, Audible, Vino Rosso, and Noble Indy each gained the approval of their trainer April 27 after the first three each covered a half-mile in their final tune ups, with Noble Indy going five furlongs.
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Justify Logs Final Derby Workout at Santa Anita
China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm's Justify put in his final timed work for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at his Santa Anita Park home base April 27.
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Plein Air Seeks Another Marathon Win in Santa Barbara
Sunny Brook Stables' Plein Air (IRE) will aim to build upon her stakes-winning U.S. debut with her second try in a Southern California marathon race April 28 in the Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
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Mucho Amor First Winner for Mucho Macho Man
Freshman sire Mucho Macho Man was represented by his first runner, Mucho Amor, who grabbed the lead early and never looked back to win an April 26 maiden special weight at Keeneland.
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Top Trainers Take Momentum Into Kentucky Derby
The three trainers who accounted for the six winners of the 170-point Road to the Kentucky Derby races contested in the United States sounded confident April 26 when they gathered for an NTRA teleconference call with media members.
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Interview: Baffert Looking Forward to Derby Week
Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers and jockeys for America's Best Racing as they travel the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 5 at Churchill Downs.
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Royal Ascot Hopeful Beckford set for Churchill Opener
Newtown Anner Stud's Beckford (GB) heads a field of 10 3-year-olds entered April 28 for the fourth running of the $100,000 William Walker Stakes going five furlongs on the turf, the highlight of Churchill Downs' Opening Night presented by Budweiser.
