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The countdown until Kentucky Derby day officially began in trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn on Sunday, the morning after Forte solidified his position as this year’s Derby favorite with a gritty and hard-fought one-length victory over the ever-improving Mage in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby.
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The 94 Beyer isn’t going to set the world on fire, but it’s another career-best for Angel of Empire, who continued his steady ascent through the 3-year-old dirt-route division.
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Angel of Empire will head to Churchill Downs on Tuesday to begin preparations for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday, a day after the horse won his second straight qualifying points race in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.
Angel of Empire’s dominant win in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby put an exclamation point on a perfect afternoon of stakes racing for trainer Brad Cox on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
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He only won by a length, but owner Vinnie Viola may have summed up Forte’s eye-catching victory over Mage in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park best in the post-race press conference when saying “All things given, the horse was not supposed to win that race.”
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The sixth and final pool in the 2023 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Saturday evening with Forte as a 5-2 favorite – and that was before the champion colt closed with a flourish to win the Florida Derby.
Bold Act won his fourth consecutive race and first start of 2023 in the $123,800 Cardinal Condition Stakes at Chelmsford City Racecourse near London, the final race in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.
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Kazushi Kimura, the leading rider at Woodbine the last two years who has spent recent months at Santa Anita, has been booked to ride the Japanese import Mandarin Hero in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
Brave Emperor currently ranks in a tie for the lead in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6. To clinch the single berth available from the series, Brave Emperor will need the best race of his already accomplished career in Saturday’s $123,800 Cardinal Condition Stakes at Chelmsford City Racecourse.
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A final push for Kentucky Derby qualifying points has brought horses from California, Florida, and Louisiana to Oaklawn Park on Saturday for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.
