In 55 of the last 59 runnings of the Kentucky Derby, the winner was either on the lead with an eighth of a mile to go in the race, within a length of the lead, or running second although more than a length off the leader.
It's the end of the Polytrack era at Keeneland, so let's take a look at the what we have in the last Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on synthetic.
Maybe Social Inclusion will stomp this field, but if there's a chance he won't, we could ascribe it to all the early speed in the Wood Memorial coupled with his relative inexperience.
General a Rod looks formidable in the Florida Derby, given his track record, post position and trainer confidence.
With three weekends of major prep races left before the Kentucky Derby, here's our survey of where dozens of contenders and pretenders are going next, listed in order of their Kentucky Derby points. Over 80 horses are listed.
The decision to put Poker Player into the Spiral Stakes lends confidence in the motivations of his connections.
Dick Downey, an attorney and founder of the "Downey Profile" that is a regular feature at Bloodhorse.com, has been appointed by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear as a Warren (Bowling Green) Circuit Family Court Judge.
Conditions could be ripe for Strong Mandate to turn the tables on Tapiture in the Rebel Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby is only 53 days away now, and the quest for valuable qualifying points has intensified. Let's take a look at who's going where next.
When you compare their most-recent-race performances and speed figures, the field in the Tampa Bay Derby could not be more competitive on paper.
Two horses have dominated the New York scene this winter, and now they look to validate their form against new blood in the Gotham Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby is only a little more than two months away, but there are still many roads to be traveled. Let's see where 60 of them are going next.
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is comprised almost entirely of early-pace and stalking types, with a couple of closers looking to narrow the gap late. Let's try to sort them out.
There's a lot of early speed in the Southwest Stakes, but not much of it late, so the race should come down to which one of the early first flight lasts the longest.
Connections of many horses have firmed up plans since last week, and other events have transpired, so let's see where they're going next on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This survey covers over 90 horses.
The Robert B. Lewis Stakes drew only seven entries, but that's consistent with the average field size for this race the last seven years. Let's take a look at who might win it.
It's February, and that means many of last year's stars are close to making their 2014 debuts. Let's see what's next for over 60 horses trying to make the Kentucky Derby.
Talk about a key race. Cousin Stephen finished behind not only Commissioner but also Top Billing last time out. Now he seeks redemption in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
The Holy Bull Stakes almost always serves as my Kentucky Derby Trail kick-off because it begins the separation of the contenders from the pretenders.
Kentucky Derby prospects are gathered and waiting to run, waiting in the wings, and waiting to come out of the woodwork. Let's take a look at where they're going next on the Kentucky Derby Trail.
This year's edition of the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes may be wide open, so let's have fun with it and try to bring home a winner.
If you're leaning in favor of any particular horse for the Kentucky Derby, maybe you'd like to know what Johnny Avello thinks about its odds to win the Triple Crown.
We're at the top of the stretch now, and every Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prep race gains heightened importance. Here's a survey of about 80 contenders and pretenders on the Derby Trail.
The 2013 edition of the grade III Spiral Stakes brings together an interesting mixture of dirt, turf and synthetic track runners that includes shippers and local entries.
We are now officially barreling down the road to the Kentucky Derby, and the Road to the Roses contest is coming up soon. So here's a survey of over 80 horses and where they're going next on the Derby Trail.
The Kentucky Court of Appeals has overturned Dr. Rod Stewart's four-year suspension for possession of cobra venom, stating that the regulation under which the veterinarian was disciplined was vague.
With many of the also-rans from the grade III Southwest Stakes out of the grade II Rebel, can Super Ninety Nine fend off the new challengers?
A prevalent idea at this point on the 2013 Kentucky Derby Trail is that the new points system is attracting more horses to the prep races. But is that what's actually happening?
The road to the Kentucky Derby winner's circle has run through Tampa twice since 2007. On Saturday in his first run in graded company, Verrazano will follow the path of Street Sense and Super Saver and see where it leads.
Here are next-race plans for over 70 horses on the Kentucky Derby trail. We'll start off with some of the more prominent names.
One week into the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, we run down the schedules of the major contenders, and more.
With Tuesday's announcement that Verrazano is going to the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby, it seems timely to survey several leading names on the Kentucky Derby trail and where they may race next.
Fortify is among nine entered for Thursday's group III UAE Two Thousand Guineas, with final declarations scheduled to be made on Tuesday.
It's supposed to be Dynamic Sky's race to lose, but he's going to face some 3-year-olds with upside potential in the grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes.
I can't wait to see Revolutionary run on Saturday in the grade III Withers Stakes, but I am even more interested in watching the colt that was the first foal out of Round Pond.
The grade II UAE Derby has drawn 27 nominations from the United States, comprising about a quarter of the 105 names submitted for the race. Bob Baffert and Ken McPeek lead the trainer list.
A field of 10, some of them with the look of real contenders, will decide whether Shanghai Bobby will be be upended coming off his 2-year-old championship in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
While there is an educated guess out there that 40 points may be the over-and-under to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate, there is reason to believe it will take fewer points than that.
There's no shortage of good sprinters lining up for what is, every year, one of the most exciting races of Breeders' Cup.
There's plenty of time between now and pre-entry day on Oct. 22, but based on a survey of several sources, there's a list of six definites, with only one of them based in Southern California
The list of probables for the Breeders' Cup Classic will undoubtedly change before pre-entries are due on Oct. 22, but here's the best we know based on the information that's out there.
Even on College Day, the backyard of Saratoga should not be confused with the infield of Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day. read blog
Belmont Stakes charts since the last Triple Crown was won show that it is almost imperative to be in the top three with a quarter-mile left in the race -- and to be on the lead at the furlong marker.
Or, Who'll Get to the Eighth Pole First; Who Can Run on An Off Track?
Chart of contenders for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), ranked by earnings in graded stakes that are used to determine 20-horse starting field.
Let's get right to it and start this analysis with Morgan's Guerilla. He's breaking from post 1.
Bodemeister jumped into the Top 20 in a big way with a 9 1/2-length win of the grade II Arkansas Derby, catapulting him to number 11.
I think either Hansen or Dullahan will win the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass, but how will the track be playing on Saturday?
After Saturday's graded stakes, Rousing Sermon is number 20 on the Kentucky Derby graded stakes earnings list with $270,000. He's ahead of Mark Valeski, El Padrino, Reveron and a host of others.
The Grade I Wood Memorial is worth taking a risk with a moderate longshot, but things have to set up right for him.
