Trainer Fairlie Notches 1,000th Career Win
Trainer Scott Fairlie recorded his 1,000th career win May 5 when the 5-year-old mare Aunt Sue raced to victory in a seven-furlong claiming race at Woodbine.
Thoroughbred Racing
News, previews, results for major North American Thoroughbred races
Derby Day Crowd Begins to Arrive, Scratches of Note
With a steady drizzle and temperatures in the mid-40s in Louisville, Ky. at 9:30 a.m. on May 6, fans trickled into Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
By the Moon Breaks Through in Vagrancy
Jay Em Ess Stable's By the Moon returned to the winner's circle after a series of close finishes, after she overtook Pretty N Cool entering the turn and held on for a 1 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) May 5 at Belmont Park.
Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby Double Payouts
China Horse Club and Clearsky Farm's Abel Tasman, 9-1 winner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has set up potential payouts for the Oaks/Kentucky Derby double ranging from $73 to $1,195.
Abel Tasman Storms Home to Win Kentucky Oaks
China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms' Abel Tasman rallied on the outside in the stretch to score a 1 1/4-length victory May 5 in the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
La Coronel Splashes to Edgewood Win Over Dream Dancing
La Coronel, on her way to England to compete at Royal Ascot, made a successful stop at Churchill Downs to prevail from entry mate Dream Dancing in a wet Edgewood Stakes.
Benner Island Holds On in Eight Belles
Shortleaf Stable's Benner Island, a 3-year-old daughter of Speightstown, holds off the late surge of Union Strike to win the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) May 5 at Churchill Downs. She covers the trip in 1:24.28.
'Wide-Open' Derby Field Has Its Share of Class
The term "wide-open" has been tossed about the Churchill Downs backstretch like a baseball of late whenever the connections of Kentucky Derby aspirants are asked about the complexion of this year's Run for the Roses.
Green Mask Makes the Grade in Turf Sprint
Narrowly denied a graded win last out, Sheikh Abdullah Saeed Almaddah's Green Mask flew by frontrunner Latent Revenge in the stretch to win the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by TwinSpires.com (G3T)
Bird Song Skips to Alysheba Victory
Start to finish, Bird Song led the field in the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes presented by Big Fish Casino (G2) May 5 at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby Notes From Churchill, May 5
The Todd Pletcher barn was busy and humming Friday morning, a day before Kentucky Derby 143.
Reviewing Kentucky Derby Entrants Purchased at Auction
Topped by Tapwrit's $1.2 million price, a dozen of the 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) were purchased at public auction, several of them more than once.
Big World Delivers in La Troienne
Tom Amoss-trained Big World made her game form last all the way on the front end in the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes (G1), setting comfortable early fractions and turning back a late run from Romantic Vision to earn her first top-level score.
Travis Stone Set for Third Derby Call
It will be strictly business for Stone, 33, Churchill's track announcer since the 2015 spring/summer meeting.
Canterbury Park Opens 2017 Season May 5
Canterbury Park will open its 67-day live horse racing meet May 5, marking the first time Canterbury has opened on Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) weekend since 2008.
Soggy Start to Oaks Day; No Derby Scratches
Steady rain provided a wet start to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks day card at Churchill Downs and was forecast to continue throughout the day. Also there were no scratches out of the May 6 Kentucky Derby before the 9 a.m. Friday scratch deadline.
Sircat Sally Brings Undefeated Record to Senorita
Joe Turner's versatile Sircat Sally will bring her undefeated record back to Santa Anita Park for the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3T) May 6.
Buy Sell Hold Takes Kentucky Juvenile Stakes
In the first major-circuit stakes of the year for 2-year-olds, Buy Sell Hold battled down the stretch with McErin and held off a late bid from Amberspatriot to win the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill Downs May 4.
Bradley Keeps Eyes on Prize With Divisidero
Divisidero has rewarded Buff Bradley's patience with glimpses of brilliance throughout his career. Now he's set to return to the grade 1 ranks as the morning line favorite for the May 6 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1T).
Talent Pool Runs Deep in Kentucky Oaks
Miss Sky Warrior's trainer Kelly J. Breen notes the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has a 'Final Four' feel, but the talent runs much deeper for Churchill Downs' main event May 5.
Litfin: Keying Irish War Cry, Gunnevera in Derby
Handicapper Dave Litfin sizes up the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.
Sea Calisi Aims for Sheepshead Bay Repeat
Grade I winner Sea Calisi (FR) will try to win the $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2T) a second straight year when she faces an expected six other fillies and mares, including Suffused (GB), in the 1 3/8-mile turf test May 6 at Belmont Park.
Classic Empire Showcases the Best of Team Casse
While the world may know the Casse barn for its work in campaigning two-time champion turf female Tepin, Classic Empire may be the poster boy for the resolve of the connections who say they want a Derby triumph above all prizes.
Jockeys Pass Derby Lessons Down From Generations
Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. has served as a mentor to fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has in turn passed riding knowledge to Jose Ortiz.
Mohaymen, Connect Start Season in Westchester
Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen is set to return to the races in the $200,000 Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park May 6 after an extensive layoff.
Trainer Moore Aims to Add to Champions Mile Success
Sha Tin hosts a group 1 doubleheader May 7 and, while the races are largely intramural affairs, the paucity of international competition doesn't lessen the interest.
Viola Brings Brooklyn to Kentucky with Always Dreaming
Vincent Viola went to Aqueduct Racetrack with his father early in life, and learned lessons that have helped him in his profession and a market trader, business founder, and Thoroughbred owner, lessons he is using with Derby hopeful Always Dreaming.
Miss Temple City Makes 2017 Debut in Distaff Turf Mile
Before another venture to Royal Ascot can be booked, Miss Temple City must clear the first hurdle of showing she is the same runner that has wreaked havoc on rivals of both sex.
Plenty of Questions in One-Turn Pat Day Mile
Local Hero and Uncontested, one-time Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hopefuls, face a new challenge cutting back to one-turn for the May 6 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Oscar Performance Seeks Return to Form in American Turf
A quality field of 11 runners will face off in the 8 1/2-furlong American Turf on Derby Day undercard at Churchill Downs, with champion Oscar Performance squaring off against the filly La Coronel
Denman's Call Heads Churchill Downs Stakes Entries
Grade 1 winner Denman's Call will make his first start out of California when he faces a field of 14 going seven furlongs in the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) May 6.
Paulassilverlining Enters Humana Distaff in Top Form
Paulassilverlining will try for a second straight grade 1 win for her new connections when she starts in the $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Saratoga Helped Draw Bonomo to Horse Racing
Anthony Bonomo, whose Brooklyn Boyz Stables is one of the partners on Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming, said his first trip to Saratoga Springs, N.Y.—a visit that was his wife Mary Ellen’s idea—drew him into the sport.
Gaffalione Unflappable Before First Derby
The only experience Tyler Gaffalione has had with the first leg of the Triple Crown has been watching the Louisville classic on television. But come May 6, the jockey will be aboard Patch in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Spending Time With Irap's Groom Daniel Robles
Daniel Robles is a groom for trainer Doug O'Neill.
Powerful Oxley/Casse Duo in Edgewood Stakes
La Coronel and Dream Dancing are the 8-5 co-morning-line favorites. Sweeping Paddy has the best wet turf record in the field.
Vexatious' Bumpy Ride to the Oaks
Calumet Farm's Vexatious, trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, has had excuses in all three of her 2017 starts, but may put it all together in the May 5 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Derby Favorite Classic Empire Draws Post 14
John Oxley's Classic Empire was made the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) after drawing post 14.
Girvin Makes First Visit to Track at Churchill Downs
Brad Grady's Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Girvin took his first ever spin around the Churchill Downs oval when he galloped over the surface May 3.
Japan Horse Heading for Belmont, Churchill to Try Again
Churchill Downs Inc. officials say they'll try again next year to get a Japanese horse in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1)—with hopes to add to the international draw and revenues of its signature event.
Holding Gold Seeks Second Graded Win in Turf Sprint
Live Oak Plantation's homebred Holding Gold looks to score another graded win in the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T), but he'll face some familiar competition in the five-furlong turf test May 5 at Churchill Downs.
Surging Honorable Duty Back at Churchill for Alysheba
After registering three straight stakes wins during the Fair Grounds meet, Honorable Duty will try to continue that winning form in Kentucky when he starts in the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Big Fish Casino (G2) May 5 at Churchill Downs.
The Week in Photos 5/2/2017
Tenno Sho, Aoba Sho, Miami Mile, Thunder Road, Bewitch, Santa Barbara, San Francisco Mile, Busan Handicap, Queen Mother Memorial Cup, Campanile, Foxy J G, Silky Sullivan, Powder Break and Fury.
Champion Finest City Entered in La Troienne
Champion Finest City will make her first venture outside of California as scheduled this week. Where the daughter of City Zip is set to land, however, is still to be determined.
Ghalia Heads Full Field of Fillies in Eight Belles
The undercard for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs drew 14 sophomore fillies sprinting seven furlongs in the Eight Belles, named for the last filly to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
ABR: Three Derby Hopefuls Heating Up, Three Cooling
McCraken appears to be on the upswing, Girvin going other way.
Harrah's Louisiana Downs to Open Season May
The 2017 Thoroughbred racing season at Harrah's Louisiana Downs commences on Saturday, May 6. Opening day will include seven live races beginning at 3:15 pm (Central) and the simulcast of the 143rd Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs.
Patience Pays Off With Salty
Breeder/owner Chris Baccari brought Salty along slowly; the Quality Road filly earns a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Handle, Field Size Improve at Hawthorne Meet
Despite a very wet month of April, handle and field size for the recently concluded spring meet at Hawthorne increased over 2016.
Range of Experience Levels in 2017 Derby Hopefuls
While Todd Pletcher acknowledges three starts going into this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) is not ideal for Patch, the Calumet Farm homebred has enough working in his favor that Pletcher believes he has earned his shot.
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