A game of musical preps includes the entry of Gary and Mary West's homebred Restoring Hope in the Wood Memorial, sending the son of Giant's Causeway cross-country off a maiden win in a last-minute bid to gain points to run in the Kentucky Derby.
Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman's grade 1 winner McKinzie will likely miss the 3-year-old classics series, trainer Bob Baffert said April 4.
Mendelssohn's UAE Derby win pretty much means three of the 20 stalls come Derby day will be filled with horses trained outside the U.S.
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.
A tightly-grouped foursome headed by Ruis Racing's San Felipe (G2) winner Bolt d'Oro (#2, 5-1) sits atop the morning-line odds for the 24 wagering interests set for this weekend's fourth pool of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Find out where Steve ranks UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn.
A strong six-furlong move in 1:13 1/5 by Justify April 2 at Santa Anita Park proved enough for trainer Bob Baffert to fully commit to having the son of Scat Daddy make his stakes debut in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 7.
Mendelssohn, the 2016 Keeneland sale-topper, will be headed to Churchill Downs as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after blowing away an international cast of 3-year-olds in the UAE Derby.
Impressed as he was with Audible's performance in the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), Todd Pletcher was equally thrilled by how the colt bounced out of a powerful three-length victory that stamped him as a leading Triple Crown contender.
Both out early April 1 to beat the threat of rain, Quip completed his major preparations for the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) while Monomoy Girl put in her last work ahead of the Ashland Stakes (G1) coming up April 7 at Keeneland.
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.
Blended Citizen, who has had much of his success on the grass and all-weather surfaces, prepared for his return to the dirt in the April 7 $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) by working five furlongs in 1:01 March 31 at Keeneland.
Baffert said something isn't quite right with the Street Sense colt, who last out edged Bolt d'Oro in the March 10 San Felipe Stakes (G2) but was disqualified to second for interference in late stretch.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien and owner MV Magnier discuss Mendelssohn's impressive victory in the UAE Derby and prospects for the Kentucky Derby. Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said Mendelssohn had questions to answer coming into the UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) March 31 at Meydan.
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.
Because a pair of international races could generate several Kentucky Derby starters, this weekend's points races will be the most important weekend in determining where this year's Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points bubble will fall.
A late change in racing plans didn't bother Gronkowski as the Kentucky-bred son of Lonhro rallied to a clear victory in the Burradon Stakes March 30 at Newcastle.
Aidan O’Brien talks about his entries for Dubai World Cup Day, including UAE Derby contenders Mendelssohn, Seahenge, and Threeandfourpence. Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
Sunland Derby (G3) winner Runaway Ghost topped a trio of black-type winners for Adena Spring Kentucky's 18-year-old stallion Ghostzapper March 25 at Sunland Park.
D. Wayne Lukas has called an audible with Sporting Chance and will send the grade 1 winner to the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 7 at Keeneland, the Hall of Fame trainer said March 29.
Horse Racing Radio Network announced March 29, their schedule for Saturday's major Triple Crown preps, the Florida Derby (G1).
BackTrack is in the third of 12 weeks looking back at the Belmont Stakes (G1) victories of the Triple Crown winners in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the New York classic.
After more than 50 years in horse racing, the Peacock family focused their entire breeding operation on one mare. The plan could not be working any better.
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.
NBCSN presents coverage of two live horse racing events this Saturday, March 31, beginning with the $10 million Dubai World Cup at 12:30 p.m. ET, and continuing with the $1 million Florida Derby at 6 p.m. ET.
The New York Racing Association today announced the launch of an innovative promotion that will provide one lucky fan with the chance of a lifetime—to earn $150,000 by picking the winner of the 150th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9.
The band certainly won't be playing "My Old Kentucky Home" when an international field of 3-year-olds takes the track March 31 at Meydan for the UAE Derby (G2), but connections of several starters also are thinking about a trip to Louisville.
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Hofburg, an impressive maiden winner March 3 at Gulfstream Park, will make his third career start and first in a stakes March 31 in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1).
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.
Two stakes horses from last weekend made this week's Derby Dozen.
A listing of scheduled racing-related programs for this week.
While Lone Sailor was just denied what would have been an emotional win for his connections in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) March 24 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the $200,000 purse he earned surpasses his purchase price.
With the victory in the Louisiana Derby, Noble Indy ensured himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby field with 100 qualifying points and also received a step up on the top-10 ladder to seventh position in week nine of the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll
Trainer Jeremy Noseda has changed course on his plans for Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contender Gronkowski, who will not be shipped to the U.S. for a prep race but instead will start in the Burradon March 30 at Newcastle.
There was no question who was the best horse at Sunland Park late in the afternoon at the New Mexico racetrack.
March 24 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Noble Indy is scheduled to be reunited with trainer Todd Pletcher's contingent at Palm Beach Downs Training Center in South Florida Monday morning.
Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables' Catholic Boy breezed an energetic four furlongs in :48.46 the morning of March 25 in preparation for a start in the $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) March 31 at Gulfstream Park.
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.
Robert Baron's Promises Fulfilled breezed five furlongs in 1:02.04 at Gulfstream Park March 24 in preparation for a start in the March 31 Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1).
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).
Courtlandt Farms' homebred Strike Power put an exclamation point on his final major workout ahead of the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) March 31 with a bullet half-mile breeze over Gulfstream Park's main track the morning of March 23.
Runaway Ghost, the first foal of multiple stakes winner Rose's Desert, by Ghostzapper, could land a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate with a win in the March 25 Sunland Derby.
The road to this year's American classic races has done much to enhance Malibu Moon's reputation as a reliable sire of top performers.
Blended Citizen, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over Turfway Park’s Polytrack March 17, could make his next start in Keeneland’s April 7 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) according to trainer Doug O'Neill.
This week is a recap of the Belmont Stakes win of Gallant Fox that ran in the June 14, 1930 issue of BloodHorse. Note the writer declaring Sir Barton and Gallant Fox the first two "Triple Event" winners.
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).
Total pari-mutuel handle on the 10-race Rebel Day March 17 card at Oaklawn Park was a record for March and a non-Arkansas Derby Day, eclipsing marks set from last year's corresponding program, despite one fewer race.
John Oxley's Flameaway, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and 10th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, is among the late nominees.
