The Belmont is now a prep for the Kentucky Derby. It is not being allowed to play its customary Triple Crown dream-killer role this year. The 2020 Belmont, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness have suffered this year from the removal of Thoroughbred racing’s intense Rites of Spring as the races are now strewn across […]
The Kentucky Derby is being postponed from May to September because of growing concern about the coronavirus pandemic, according to a published report. Churchill Downs will postpone the Derby from 2 May to 5 September marking the 1st time in 75 years that the race will not be run on the first Saturday in May. […]
Impressed as he was with Audible’s performance in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1), trainer 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. Pletcher checked in on his latest 3-year-old star early Easter Sunday morning, and found […]
Bob Baffert, who’s built an unparalleled Hall of Fame career in large-part by utilizing his God-given instincts, is following his “gut” yet again as he’s decided to run top Derby prospect Justify in this Saturday’s Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Derby following a powerful six furlong workout in 1:13.20 Monday morning at Santa Anita. […]
Three-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Victor Espinoza took top Derby contender Bolt d’Oro through a brisk half mile work of 46.40 this morning at Santa Anita as he readies for a showdown with Bob Baffert’s McKinzie and other top 3-year-olds going a mile and one sixteenth in the Grade II, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes this […]
Promises Fulfilled Takes Aim at Kentucky Derby Robert Baron’s Promises Fulfilled was ‘in good shape’ Sunday morning after registering a front-running victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. “He came out of the race very well,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He’s in good shape. Romans is pointing his Fountain of Youth […]
Audible Follows Pletcher Path to Kentucky Derby Holy Bull (G1) winner Audible’s next start could well come in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 31. “I think you have to leave all the options open and see how he trains,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday afternoon. “Talking to (WinStar Farm’s President, […]
Kentucky Derby Trail: Audible Takes the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park Audible (Into Mischief) registered a resounding victory in Saturday’s $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, stamping himself as a prime prospect on the Road to the Florida Derby (G1) and the Triple Crown. Making his stakes debut in the 29th running of […]
Saturday’s $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin entered graded-stakes winner Enticed in Saturday’s $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park in a quest to win the important Florida Derby (G1) and Triple Crown prep for the third time in five years. Enticed looms as the horse to beat in a field […]
Horse Racing Booming in California WINTER MEET MOMENTUM CONTINUES TO BUILD AS SANTA ANITA ALL SOURCES HANDLE OF $12.7 MILLION UP 23 PERCENT COMPARED TO SAME DAY ONE YEAR AGO Like the rest of California, Santa Anita is having a major resurgence in the racing world. With seven Winter Meet racing days in the books, […]
Kentucky Derby: Baffert and McKinzie Stake their Claim Bob Baffert’s McKinzie took another significant step toward the Kentucky Derby by winning Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Sham Stakes in stylish fashion under Mike Smith, as he dominated by 3 ½ lengths while getting a flat mile in 1:36.58. With Baffert removing blinkers, McKinzie seemed more settled […]
WinStar Farm has entered into an agreement to acquire the breeding rights to 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Florida Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming. “We are excited to add another potentially breed-shaping stallion from the dominant Unbridled line, which has proven to be today’s preeminent classic sire line,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar President & CEO. […]
Daughters of 2 Kentucky Derby Winners Booked to Honorius Knightsbridge Bloodstock has purchased the Mares by Kentucky Derby winners Smarty Jones and Big Brown. Smarty Jones Winner of over $7.6 million 1st in the G1 Kentucky Derby, 1st in the G1 Preakness Stakes and 2nd in the G1 Belmont Stakes Over $32 Million Lifetime Progeny […]
Elusive Quality, sire of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones Retires Champion sire and world record breaker Elusive Quality has been retired from stud duties at Sheikh Mohammed’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Campaigned by Sheikh Mohammed, the 24-year-old took up residence at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, in 1999, as the second stallion to stand for Sheikh […]
Thunder Snow Shows his Versatility Thunder Snow, the horse that caught the world attention at the Kentucky Derby with an unusual performance at the starting gate has proven just how versatile he is, from Dirt to Turf Thunder Snow is a champion performer. Thunder Snow bounced back to form with a good second on his […]
Kentucky Derby Draw: Gunnevera, Thunder Snow and Always Dreaming Our selection for the Kentucky Derby, Gunnevera was not disadvantaged by the draw and remains our favorite. Thunder Snow, our long shot did very well in the draw and his chances of grabbing a place have improved dramatically. Classic Empire did not draw well, he will […]
Kentucky Derby Update There has been a lot of action this weekend in the lead up to the Kentucky Derby. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has elected to run Thunder Snow (Helmet) in the Kentucky Derby. Thunder Snow has had a sensational career, he was an impressive winner of the Group 1 […]
Classic Empire jumped all the way from 21st on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard to second following a gutsy half-length victory in Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The bay son of Pioneerof the Nile didn’t have the cleanest of trips early in the nine-furlong contest, bobbling at the start and steading first […]
The Arkansas Derby: Our Selections The Arkansas Derby is a tough race, Classic Empire on his best form should win but there is too much of a question mark on his health and his behavior we have not put him on top. Malagacy is in form and without any of the issues that have plagued […]
from J A McGrath at Godolphin The season’s first major upset in the ranks of America’s Classic generation occurred when Classic Empire suffered a comprehensive defeat inflicted by Irish War Cry in Saturday’s G2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Florida. All indications are that last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner was not at his […]
El Areeb Looks Set to Take the Withers at Aquaduct Our Picks 1. El Areeb 2. True Timber 3. Fillet of Sole El Areeb (Exchange Rate) will start favourite and looks safe in the Withers, he has won his lat 3 starts well and it does not like there is anything in the field capable […]
Classic Empire Vs Gunnevera in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park Our Picks Classic Empire Fact Finding Gunnevera In what is the race of the weekend 2 of the hottest 3 year olds will compete for the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Last time the met Classic Empire was far superior, Gunnevera (Dialed In) […]
2017 WinStar Stablemates Fantasy Derby Challenge! To enter the contest, pick 3 horses out of each of the 4 groups offered (12 horses total) and answer the Tiebreaker question by 12:00 pm (Noon) February 4, 2017. You will collect “purse winnings” for your stable each time one of your horses races and earns a purse! […]