Trainer Doug O'Neill has full confidence in the potential for I'll Have Another to handle the grueling 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) after the colt captured the first two jewels of America's Triple Crown.
A strong contingent of horses will attempt to spoil the Triple Crown bid of I'll Have Another when the 3-year-olds assemble at Belmont Park on June 9 for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Relive the exciting rivalry of I'll Have Another and Bodemeister!
Though I'll Have Another ran him down in deep stretch in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill, all signs point to Bodemeister being the one to beat in Preakness 137 at Pimlico Race Course May 19.
Steve Haskin talks to D. Wayne Lukas about Optimizer and the Preakness Stakes. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm.
Will it be I'll Have Another once again? Will Bodemeister get revenge? Or will one of the new players take the Black-eyed Susans?
Evan Hammonds reports on the news of the day including horses on the track Thursday, and the Alibi Breakfast. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm.
Evan Hammonds and Jason Shandler handicap the Preakness Stakes track-side at Pimlico. Evan successfully picked I'll Have Another to win the Kentucky Derby; will he be correct this time?
A Preakness tradition, the Alibi Breakfast gives trainers a chance to offer up an 'alibi' before the second jewel of the Triple Crown. This year there were few alibis and a lot more confidence from the connections.
Bodemeister, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been made the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 19 and will break from post 7.
Stakes-placed colt will represent trainer Dale Romans in second leg of Triple Crown
Ron Mitchell talks about how I'll Have Another and his connections are doing on Sunday morning. Ron also touches on future plans for other Kentucky Derby contenders.
Calumet Farm's devil's red and blue silks may be returning to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May atop Brad Kelley's homebred Optimizer.
With so much speed entered in this year's Kentucky Derby, you have to consider that stalkers, and closers who sit just off the pace this year could pull out a victory.
The time is getting near. No not the Derby, trying to finally decipher this intricate and confusing puzzle.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas talks about Optimizer, now in the Derby field. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm.
The withdrawal of Mark Valeski, which allows Optimizer to run, Rousing Sermon's work, gallops from Alpha, Went the Day Well, Trinniberg, and Prospective, new arrivals, and more. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm.
Brereton C. Jones' homebred Mark Valeski was declared out of the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) the morning of May 1.
Eric Mitchell updates us on track conditions, the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby works for Bodemeister, Optimizer, Jemima's Pearl and Believe You Can.
After watching Optimizer work at Churchill Downs April 29, trainer D. Wayne Lukas expressed confidence in the colt's potential in the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Isn't He Clever, the Sunland Derby (gr. III) runner-up trained by Steve Asmussen, is no longer under consideration for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Brereton Jones' Mark Valeski, runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and Risen Star Stakes (gr. II), drilled five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Churchill Downs April 23 for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Here's a round-up of activity at Churchill Downs April 22 surrounding the contenders for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Four of our highly touted horses, Holy Candy, Dullahan, Optimizer, and Sabercat, are running this weekend.
Jason and Evan handicap the Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby this week.
Trainer Bob Baffert looks to continue his strong run of recent success at Oaklawn Park when he saddles Bodemeister and Secret Circle, the morning line favorites for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 14.
Rebel Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Optimizer put in his final workout for Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Lenny and Steve discuss the Rebel, the end of 'Luck', Betfair, and fatalities at Aqueduct. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.
Haskin's Derby Dozen shifts with Gemologist, Optimizer and Secret Circle this week.
With a third straight Rebel Stakes (gr. II) victory sealed thanks to Secret Circle March 17, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was eagerly looking forward to the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) next month at Oaklawn Park.
Secret Circle handed trainer Bob Baffert his third consecutive victory in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II), taking over from Scatman in mid-stretch and holding off a late run by longshot Optimizer to score the $500,000 event.
El Padrino, who showed himself to be a Triple Crown contender with a sharp allowance win at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29, heads a field of 11 entered for the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Feb. 25.
Oaklawn Park's road to the Triple Crown, which culminates with the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) this spring, begins Jan. 16 with the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes.
WinStar Farm and Todd Pletcher hope history will repeat itself, as likely favorite Gemologist leads a field of 11 juveniles in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.
Lenny Shulman talks with Robby Albarado about his Breeders' Cup mounts, including Animal Spirits, Optimizer, and Hamazing Destiny. Sponsored by Taylor Made Stallions
Plotting strategy for So You Think and Game On Dude.
A trio of Breeders' Cup contenders from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott--To Honor and Serve (Classic, gr. I), Royal Delta (Ladies' Classic, gr. I) and Courageous Cat (Mile, gr. IT)--worked Oct. 16 at Churchill.
The first inclination would be to dismiss Dullahan's chances in the Juvenile, based on his two mediocre performances over the Churchill Downs dirt surface in his first two career starts. That would be a mistake.
Handled with confidence by Ramon Dominguez, front-running State of Play repelled the onrushing Optimizer to win the $151,000 With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Saratoga turf Sept. 1.
Thursday's With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) features a pair of 2-year-olds from the first crop of turf champion English Channel.
