Regardless of what is written down and published, there’s always another angle—another lead, another quote, another phone call that could add further depth to a story. These Denali graduates have added their own exclamation points to this one.
Santa Anita Handicap, Triple Bend, Frank E. Kilroe Mile, San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby, Hillsborough, Sant Ana, Tom Fool Handicap, Florida Oaks, Honeybee, Newmarket Handicap, Australian Cup, Cymbidium Handicap and more.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, and Bob LaPenta came together two years ago to buy a Tapit colt for seven figures, and they've been rewarded by Tapwrit, now one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby.
Despite incurring some traffic trouble around the first turn, Tapwrit became the latest sophomore to make a play for a starring role in the ever-evolving 3-year-old male picture when he drew clear by 4 1/2 lengths in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. This week we have a trio of grade 1 races at Santa Anita Park, a Triple Crown prep on each coast, and more.
On the West Coast at The Great Race Place, the 80th running of the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) anchors a five-stakes program
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs.
When it was announced last week that track record-setting Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) winner McCraken would miss the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) with a slight ankle strain, a new level of opportunity was placed at the feet of classic aspirants.
In the days to come, Beasley's connections hope he'll take them full circle to a certain racetrack on a certain Saturday in May—where 24 years ago, owner Lee Lewis and trainer Mark Hennig found themselves with their only Kentucky Derby (G1) starter.
Unbeaten multiple graded stakes winner McCraken will miss the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 11 after emerging from a four-furlong move Feb. 27 with a slight strain to his left front ankle.
Twin Creeks Racing Stables April 26 said Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has acquired a minority interest in Destin, the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) winner and expected starter in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
This week we take a closer look at Destin, winner of the $350,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Full fields, three graded stakes, and quality horses helped Tampa Bay Downs register record total pari-mutuel handle for one program March 12. More than $12 million was wagered on 12 races.
Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Destin delivered a second straight stakes win at Tampa Bay Downs March 12, this time landing the track's top classic prep race: the $350,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Stakes (gr. II).
Brody's Cause and Destin, both graded stakes-winning sons of Giant's Causeway, head a field of 10 for the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
Grade I winner Brody's Cause is scheduled to make his 3-year-old season debut Saturday, March 12 in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
Tom LaMarra and Ellis Starr preview the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) featuring Star Hill, Rafting, Destin, Brody's Cause, and Economic Model.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Tom LaMarra and Ellis Starr preview the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) featuring Star Hill, Rafting, Destin, Brody's Cause, and Economic Model. Download Equibase Past Performances for the Tampa Bay Derby.
The road to the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) begins locally Dec. 19 when 2-year-olds face off in the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The Saturday card features two other stakes.
Tampa Bay Downs has reached an agreement with Lambholm South to sponsor the 36th renewal of the Tampa Bay Derby, the track's grade II Triple Crown prep race scheduled for March 12, 2016.
Tampa Bay Downs, Santa Anita, Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park, Gulfstream, Sunland and More.
Carpe Diem made his 2015 debut in style March 7, taking the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs by five lengths. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up claimed his third win from four starts.
The transcript for the Live Chat is now available.
'He wouldn't run and hide behind his mother. He'd lead through the door,' Beau Lane of Woodline Farm said of Carpe Diem, a leading contender for the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) on the road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby, and Gotham Stakes.
The decision by Stonestreet Stables to have undefeated Ocean Knight bypass the March 7 Gotham Stakes in favor of the Tampa Bay Derby sets up a showdown between that colt and Carpe Diem, owned by Stonestreet and WinStar Farms.
Kiaran McLaughlin, a former D. Wayne Lukas assistant who grew up near Lexington, has started five horses in the Derby, all longshots. He came tantalizingly close to winning with his initial starter, the 71-1 Closing Argument.
Prospective, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Malibu Moon, has his first foal -- a colt -- arrive Jan. 13 at Ocala Stud in Florida.
The 35th renewal of the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) for 3-year-olds highlights a 2014-2015 Tampa Bay Downs stakes schedule offering $2.66 million in purse money.
The owners of Ring Weekend are hoping his distant second-place finish in the Calder Derby isn't a true indication of his chances in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.
West Point Thoroughbreds founder and president Terry Finley had to reach deep into his wallet to acquire Preakness Stakes contender Ring Weekend, a son of Tapit, at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.
The Besilu Stables Florida Derby remains a strong possibility for surprise Swales Stakes (gr. II) winner Spot, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito said March 19, with a decision likely following an upcoming workout.
Evan Hammonds recaps the historical Santa Anita Handicap, San Felipe Stakes, Gulfstream Park Handicap, and the Tampa Bay Derby.
Evan Hammonds recaps the historical Santa Anita Handicap, San Felipe Stakes, Gulfstream Park Handicap, and the Tampa Bay Derby.
St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Ring Weekend sprang a 14-1 upset of the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, well clear of Vinceremos in an impressively speedy gate-to-wire score.
WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, owners of Sam F. Davis (gr. III) winner Vinceremos, will donate a portion of the colt's earnings to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
The transcript for the Live Chat is now available.
TimeformUS Weekend Stakes Plays for Santa Anita, Tampa Bay, and Oaklawn Park.
In what may go down as the race of the year, Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) will feature a rematch between Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) 1-2 finishers Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge.
Conquest Titan was runner-up to Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull, while Vinceremos won the local prep for the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
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.
Trainer Doug O'Neill talks with Ron Mitchell about Reddam Racing's Bond Holder.
Problems started on a flight from California to New Orleans for the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes, when Bond Holder was slightly injured after being severely jarred by turbulence. The incident took a severe mental toll.
Vinceremos and Harpoon, the 1-2 finishers in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), are among 18 Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-olds nominated for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs
Prospective, Malibu Moon's grade II-winning earner of $719,130, has been retired from racing and will stand at J. Michael O'Farrell Jr.'s Ocala Stud in Florida for the 2014 breeding season.
Tampa Bay Downs is offering a $1 million bonus payout in 2014 to the owner of any horse sweeping the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
A revamped Festival Day celebration featuring three graded races worth $700,000, three cards offering three major stakes apiece, and a record $2,695,000 in purse money highlight Tampa's stakes schedule for the 2013-14 meet.
Where the 4-year-old son of Malibu Moon and grade II winner will stand has not been set.
Evan Hammonds recaps his top 5 performances in Kentucky Derby prep races. Who else would you include?
