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Kentucky Derby 2025: Coal Battle having a ball heading into Arkansas Derby
A stall toy gave trainer Lonnie Briley a tip off about how to proceed with Coal Battle on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Mary RampelliniMar 26, 2025
A stall toy gave trainer Lonnie Briley a tip off about how to proceed with Coal Battle on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Led by the Kentucky-bred colt Luxor Cafe, 15 3-year-olds have been nominated for Saturday's Fukuryu Stakes at Nayakama Racecourse, the final race of the Japanese qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.
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Although Bullard may be nominated to the Santa Anita Derby, trainer Michael McCarthy said it would be “just to keep our options open.” Bullard is more likely to be trained toward the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 12 at Keeneland.
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Journalism, early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, worked in company Saturday with Kentucky Derby alumnus Endlessly. Both colts are trained by Michael McCarthy. Endlessly, a turf/synthetic specialist who finished ninth in the 2024 Derby, is training toward a spring comeback on turf.
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Barnes has slipped in popularity, partly based on a disappointing blinkers-off workout Sunday at Santa Anita. Barnes was outworked by Rodriguez, a stablemate he defeated by more than nine lengths while finishing second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1.
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Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for March 26, 2025
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Manny Franco, currently the leading rider at Aqueduct’s winter meet, has picked up the mount on morning-line favorite Sovereignty for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday afternoon.
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Final Gambit relished the added ground of the Jeff Ruby, making a wide last-to-first run to win by 3 1/2 lengths with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90. The 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points he earned for the victory assures him a berth in the Derby starting gate if his connections want to take it.
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Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope said he's hoping for a potential field of nine to 12 horses for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby next Saturday. Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race will be drawn Sunday.
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American Promise, who moves onto the Derby Watch Top 20 with his Virginia Derby win, will look to better the performances of first-crop Justify colts Verifying, who finished 16th in the 2023 Derby, and Just a Touch, who finished 20th last year.