It would be virtually impossible for a broodmare to have two Kentucky Derby starters in the same year; the race is, of course, only for 3-year-olds, and surviving, thriving twins are rare in horses. But the pensioned broodmare Darling My Darling has found a way to get her name into this year’s lineup twice. Two of the mare’s daughters have foals in the race, represented by Sierra Leone and Forever Young.
Gun Runner and Justify were both brilliant on the track, earning Horse of the Year honors. For those accomplishments, they will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame this summer. First, though, they’ll try to add another accomplishment to the brilliant start to their respective stud careers, as both have Kentucky Derby entrants this weekend.
The influence of the late, great Storm Cat can’t be overstated. Five of this year’s Kentucky Derby entrants carry his blood via direct male line. One of those is Resilience, by leading sire Into Mischief, a great-grandson of Storm Cat.
The other Storm Cat line Derby horses are Domestic Product, Mystik Dan, Just a Touch, and Just Steel.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s a week for making history at Churchill Downs, with the 150th editions of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. First, though, local hero Bango will attempt to keep making more history at his home track.
Bango is seeking a repeat victory in the $200,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes on Thursday. The 7-year-old, a Tamaroak Stable homebred trained by Greg Foley, would take sole possession of the record as winningest horse at Churchill Downs, with 12 local wins.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mansa Musa missed the break in his North American debut April 7 at Keeneland. Maybe he should do it again Wednesday – and maybe he will.
“I haven’t done anything different with him. I don’t know what I can do,” trainer Bill Mott said Sunday morning on the Churchill Downs backstretch.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As 2-year-olds began to establish their stock over the last month, the wheeling and dealing began. As the first stakes race of the year for the division comes up in Thursday’s $250,000 Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs, a few sets of connections are hoping for a quick return on investment, having acquired a trio of young guns off their debut efforts.
PHOENIX – The local product is in the spotlight Thursday at Turf Paradise as Arizona-bred day features five $60,000 stakes.
The stakes include the Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles (race 9), Dwight D. Patterson for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf (race 8), Ann Owens Distaff for fillies and mares at six furlongs (race 6), Joanne Dye Breeders’ Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs (race 7), and Lyman and Bradley Rollins for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs (race 10).
A couple of $35,000 starter/optional-claiming races restricted to horses who have not won a race other than a maiden or claiming share the spotlight Thursday at Gulfstream Park. Both races are restricted to 3-year-olds, with fillies going 1 1/16 miles over Tapeta in the seventh race and colts at the same distance on turf in the last of eight races. A maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds kicks off the card that begins at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Leading trainer Saffie Jospeh Jr. has a couple of live horses in the seventh race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Going 1 1/2 miles is a long, three-turn trip at Churchill Downs – and Next and Classic Causeway could be staring at one another for a good bit of it. The two graded stakes winners, who have both found success racing on the lead, are part of a field of eight going this route of ground for Wednesday’s $200,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes.
“He’s doing fantastic, but that other horse – both of them have speed,” said Classic Causeway’s trainer, Kenny McPeek. “That’s going to be interesting, to see how that unfolds.”
