Wed, 04/26/2023 - 11:10

2023 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Continuar

Continuar trains at CD April 25 2023
Barbara Livingston
Japan-bred Continuar is from the second crop of Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Drefong.

Continuar

Drefong – Pan de Ring, by King Kamehameha

Bred in Japan by Lake Villa Farm ($635,432 JRHA yearling purchase by Toshihiko Tabata)

 

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 11:00

Preakness Stakes Future Bet opens Friday

Forte trains at CD April 25 2023
Barbara Livingston
Forte is the 4-1 morning-line favorite in the Preakness Future Bet, which will close on May 6 before the Kentucky Derby is run.

The inaugural Preakness Stakes Future Bet will include a field of 28 individual horses and an “all others” entry, according to a list of horses distributed Tuesday night.

The field includes many of the top choices for the May 6 Kentucky Derby, plus a handful of horses whose trainers have indicated that they are shooting for the May 20 Preakness after the post-Derby shakeout. But the timing of the Preakness Future Bet will require players to make their selections prior to that shakeout – the pool will close on the afternoon of May 6, prior to the running of the Derby.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 14:05

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Disarm drills serious five furlongs

Disarm works at CD under Rosario April 24 2023
Barbara Livingston
Disarm worked five furlongs in 59.90 on Monday, just nine days after finishing third in the Lexington Stakes.

Churchill Downs
Monday, April 24
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 35
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An impressive work just nine days removed from his last start by Disarm and a very strong open gallop with blinkers on by Sun Thunder highlighted the special Kentucky Derby-Oaks training session at a chilly Churchill Downs on Monday.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 14:00

Defunded part of Baffert's strong team of older horses

Defunded wins the Californian under Rafael Hernandez on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Benoit Photo
Defunded wins the Californian under Rafael Hernandez on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Defunded, the winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, is only one of several older horses who are candidates for major stakes this summer for trainer Bob Baffert.

The next major stakes on the main track for older horses is the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 29.

Defunded won his third stakes in his last five starts in the 1 1/8-mile Californian. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Defunded hopped in the air at the start and closed from last of six to win by a convincing three lengths.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:55

Maldonado enjoys four-win Sunday

Edwin Maldonado won four races on Sunday, two for Peter Eurton and two for Doug O'Neill.
Benoit Photo
Edwin Maldonado won four races on Sunday, two for Peter Eurton and two for Doug O'Neill.

Jockey Edwin Maldonado won four of the 10 races at Santa Anita on Sunday, the third time in the last 11 years he has won four races on a card.

Maldonado, 40, won the first race on Jetovator ($4.80), the second on Virasana ($26.80), the ninth on Chicknfingerfriday ($7.20), and the 10th on Keen to Go ($11.60). Maldonado was second by a neck on Ever a Rebel in the fourth.

Jetovator and Virasana are trained by Peter Eurton, while Doug O’Neill trains Chicknfingerfriday and Keen to Go, who were both claimed.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:55

San Francisco Mile a rebound spot for Balnikhov

Balnikhov goes into Saturday’s San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields off two losses.
Benoit Photo
Balnikhov goes into Saturday’s San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields off two losses.

Six months removed from his latest win, Balnikhov is scheduled to start in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields with something to prove.

Balnikhov rallied through traffic to win by a neck in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Keeneland last October. Balnikhov lost his two subsequent starts. Balnikhov was beaten a nose when second in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, and was seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 4.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:25

In Due Time back after a one-year layoff

In Due Time last year finished second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and third in the Grade 3 Lexington.
Barbara Livingston
In Due Time last year finished second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and third in the Grade 3 Lexington.

In Due Time, idle since his third-place finish in the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland one year ago, will finally return to the races Thursday at Gulfstream Park when he tops a field of older allowance horses in the $52,000 feature, carded at six furlongs on the dirt.

The field for the main event also includes Willy Boi, winless since a victory in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint here nine months earlier; Florida-bred stakes winner Gatsby; and the much-improved Celestial Glaze off a fourth-place finish earlier this month in the Sir Shackleton Stakes.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:25

Broken hand will keep Lezcano out of action at least another month

Jose Lezcano.11-4-22
Barbara Livingston
Jose Lezcano was injured in a spill on April 8 at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockey Jose Lezcano, who suffered a broken hand in a spill at Aqueduct on April 8, will likely miss at least the first three weeks of the Belmont Park spring meeting.

According to his agent, Jason Beides, Lezcano will have to wear a cast on his hand for the next four weeks before having another X-ray taken on his hand to determine the healing progress.

Beides said that the injury did not require surgery.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 13:20

Arctic Arrogance being considered for Pat Day Mile

Arctic Arrogance.2-12-23
Barbara Livingston
Arctic Arrogance is expected to run next in either the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs or the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Arctic Arrogance won’t be running in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Linda Rice hasn’t ruled out a trip to Louisville for the New York-bred 3-year-old, who is under consideration for the Grade 2, $500,000 Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard.

If she opts to skip that trip, Rice said Arctic Arrogance would instead by pointed to the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds going seven furlongs at Belmont Park on May 29.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 12:50

Former racehorses compete in Land Rover Kentucky event

While the eyes of the racing world are focusing on the upcoming Kentucky Derby, this week, several former racehorses will chase their own equivalent of a Grade 1 accomplishment.