Wed, 01/17/2024 - 10:36

Field, Fierceness open as top choices in Kentucky Derby future wager pool

Barbara D. Livingston
Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness is the 8-1 morning-line second choice for the Kentucky Derby future wager that opens Friday.

The first Kentucky Derby future wager pool of 2024 will be held this weekend, with little on the schedule to influence the odds of the 39 individual betting interests.

As is customary for the first future bet of the year, the heavy morning-line favorite, at 7-5, is the “all others” entry, which gives a bettor all of the horses from the foal crop of 2021 that are not listed as individual horses. That’s roughly 17,800 horses, if you want to do the math.

Sat, 12/16/2023 - 20:27

Wynstock pulls upset for Baffert, Allred in Los Alamitos Futurity

Benoit Photo
Wynstock, with Kyle Frey up, wins the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity by a half-length, paying $29.40.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Wynstock won his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Typically, a victory in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity would land the winner on a list of potential candidates for the Kentucky Derby in the spring.

Not Wynstock.

Wynstock is trained by Bob Baffert, who is currently barred from having runners in the Kentucky Derby because of a longstanding dispute with Churchill Downs management over a post-race positive found in Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby for Baffert.

Sat, 12/16/2023 - 09:12

Otto the Conqueror outduels Glengarry in Springboard Mile

Dustin Orona Photography
Otto the Conqueror (left) battles with Glengarry on his way to victory in the Springboard Mile.

Otto the Conqueror edged a relentless Glengarry by three-quarters of a length Friday night at Remington Park, winning both the $300,000 Springboard Mile and 10 points for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Magic Grant.

The Springboard Mile, for 2-year-olds, was showcased on a card of six stakes worth a total of $625,000.

Glengarry picked up five points for the Kentucky Derby, while Magic Grant earned three; fourth-place finisher Third Street picked up two; and fifth-place finisher My Buddy Mel, one.

Mon, 11/20/2023 - 15:27

Fierceness made individual favorite in second Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool

Barbara D. Livingston
Fierceness pulled off an upset score in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, making him the leading 2-year-old and a contender for the Kentucky Derby.

Fierceness, the winner of the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the leading candidate for 2-year-old champion colt, has been made the 15-1 individual betting favorite for the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool, which will open on Thursday at noon.

Fierceness is one of 38 individual betting interests listed in the pool. The overwhelming favorite is expected to be an entry of “all other colts and geldings” that are not listed individually, tabbed at 4-5 on the morning line. Another entry comprises “all other fillies.”

Fri, 11/03/2023 - 09:36

'All others' 4-5 favorite in Pool 1 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Locked at SA Oct 31 2023
Debra A. Roma
Locked, the morning-line favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was the lowest-priced individual horse bet in Pool 1 at 14-1.

The entry of “all other colts or geldings” in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that closed on Thursday night was the 4-5 favorite, with Locked, the morning-line favorite in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the lowest-priced individual horse, at 14-1.

Offered six months prior to the May 4 Kentucky Derby, the “all others” entry was expected to attract the most interest in the parimutuel pool, which offered bettors 38 individual horses, plus the “all other colts and geldings” entry and an entry covering “all other fillies,” which closed at 61-1.

Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:56

Locked, Timberlake among top individuals listed in first pool of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Barbara D. Livingston
Locked, the Breeders' Futurity winner, is the lowest-priced individual interest at 15-1.

Two of the leading contenders in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile among the 38 individual horses comprising the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager parimutuel pool, which will open on Tuesday and close on Thursday.

Fri, 09/08/2023 - 12:39

Churchill announces Derby points changes

Barbara D. Livingston
Churchill Downs has announced modifications to the Kentucky Derby qualifying system that will go into affect for the 2024 Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs has modified the system that awards points to horses seeking a berth in the Kentucky Derby by increasing the amount of points for second-place finishes in the 37 races that are a part of the series in the U.S., the company announced on Friday.

Wed, 05/10/2023 - 10:44

Pletcher appears before stewards regarding Forte's positive test

Barbara D. Livingston
Wednesday's hearing was the first related to Forte's positive test in the Sept. 5 Hopeful at Saratoga.

Forte, the morning-line Kentucky Derby favorite who was scratched the morning of the race, had a positive drug test after winning the Sept. 5 Hopeful Stakes last year that has yet to be fully adjudicated, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Tue, 05/09/2023 - 08:49

Rating dips, share flat for Kentucky Derby telecast

Debra A. Roma
Mage's victory in the Kentucky Derby was seen by 16.6 million viewers.

The final hour of the NBC broadcast of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday evening drew a 6.9 rating with a 24 share, according to the network, while drawing the largest audience for a sports broadcast since the Super Bowl.

The rating was a 10.4 percent decline from last year’s rating of 7.7, but the share was identical to last year. Share measures the percentage of televisions in use that are tuned to a broadcast.

Sun, 05/07/2023 - 12:07

Kentucky Derby 2023: Delgado's methods praised following Mage's victory

Barbara D. Livingston
Mage, shown with trainer Gustavo Delgado in the Churchill Downs barn on Sunday morning, was given a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the Kentucky Derby win.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Heavy rain, thunder and lightning populated the Churchill Downs backstretch Sunday morning, but it was all sunshine and rainbows at Barn 42, where Kentucky Derby winner Mage was ambivalent to Mother Nature and a small crowd that jammed into the barn to avoid the elements.

“The horse looks pretty amazing this morning,” said Ramiro Restrepo, part owner and the bloodstock agent who selected Mage at auction. “He’s the same cool, calm customer as he’s been from his maiden on through.”