Most important among the Kentucky Derby's variables is which horses are best able to handle the 1 1/4-mile distance. A useful tool to determine each entry's potential is the average progeny winning distance of his sire and dam.
Juddmonte Farms has the world's highest-rated horse in Arrogate and Eclipse finalist Paulassilverlining, who looks poised for a solid season. And Juddmonte has homebred Lockdown in the Kentucky Oaks – where she'll face a daughter of Juddmonte stalwart Mizzen Mast in Sailor's Valentine.
Irish War Cry, a multiple Grade 2 winner and Kentucky Derby hopeful, will stand at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky., upon his retirement from racing.
The partnership formed to buy Grade 2 winner and Kentucky Derby hopeful Tapwrit for $1.2 million was at the same time relatively spur-of-the-moment and years in the making.
A mother's influence on development in the early months can often go overlooked in the success of a racehorse, but it's hard to look at the produce record of Rebridled Dreams and not have it in mind.
The rise of A.P. Indy is nowhere more evident than in the 20 likely starters for the 2017 Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Seven of the 20 were sired by A.P. Indy-line stallions.
As many of three horses will run next Saturday in the Kentucky Derby in the name of Calumet Farm, which has won a record eight editions of the Kentucky Derby. But while a winner would add to that history, he would be the first of the group to carry the colors of current Calumet owner Brad Kelley, a deeply private man who assumed control of the historic property five years ago.
Bodemeister and Union Rags were major factors on the 2012 Triple Crown trail, and five years later, both are expected to have starters from their first crops in the Kentucky Derby.
Unbridled's Song was a successful stallion throughout his life, and has already accomplished more posthumously than many stallions do their whole careers, with two popular champions among his runners in the past four years. But there is one hole missing in his résumé that he has a chance to fill next week. Kentucky Derby contender Battalion Runner, from his final crop of foals, represents his best last chance to sire the winner of a Triple Crown event.
It took John Oxley more than a decade after Monarchos won the Kentucky Derby to make it back to the Derby, and when he did, his operation had drastically changed. Oxley has revitalized his racing string in recent years, thanks to his partnership with trainer Mark Casse. The duo will participate in the Derby for the third time in its last seven renewals with champion Classic Empire, a horse unlike any they've had together before.
