Every single horse in North America and Japan with the qualifying points to make the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field on May 6 is as of Wednesday still on track to race in the Kentucky Derby.
Of the top 20 point earners, only Brave Emperor, who topped the European Road to the Derby, has been ruled out of consideration. And that means horses who in a more typical year would comfortably be in the field will be sweating things out over the next few weeks.
WHO’S HOT
Tapit Trice produced a career-best performance Saturday at Keeneland, where he won the Blue Grass Stakes by a neck. The win lifts Tapit Trice from borderline participant in the Kentucky Derby to legitimate contender. Tapit Trice is the 5-1 second choice on the Derby Watch early odds line by David Aragona; Forte is the 3-1 favorite.
Marty McGee, who has covered racing for Daily Racing Form for 31 years, has resigned to become the agent for jockey Joe Talamo, the reporter announced on Tuesday.
McGee posted the announcement on social media, saying that “Joe and I are very excited about what the future holds. He’s an immense talent who belongs among the game’s elite.”
McGee’s last day for Daily Racing Form will be May 6, Kentucky Derby day.
McGee, who won an Eclipse Award in 2013 in the Feature/Commentary category, referred to his social-media post when asked for comment.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Queen’s Plate winner Moira and Lady Speightspeare are finalists in multiple categories at the 2022 Sovereign Awards ceremony at the Universal Eventspace in the Toronto suburb of Vaughan on Thursday.
Moira, who won both the Plate and Woodbine Oaks decisively, is a finalist for champion 3-year-old filly, along with Sister Seagull and Souper Hoity Toity. Moira is also a finalist in the female turf category, along with Lady Speightspeare and Fev Rover.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- White Abarrio will scratch from Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct due to an illness, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Friday.
White Abarrio was the 2-1 second choice on the morning line behind Repo Rocks, the 9-5 favorite.
Brave Emperor, who holds a berth for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6 through the European qualifying series, is unlikely to be sent to the United States.
Tom Palin, the racing manager for the Middleham Park Racing syndicate that owns the gelding, said on Wednesday that high costs of entry fees and traveling from Great Britain was the primary reason to pass on the Kentucky Derby.
Palin said there was an outside chance Brave Emperor could be sent to Churchill Downs if the gelding was sold in coming weeks.
Trainer Tim Yakteen is back on the Kentucky Derby trail, and this year it’s not all about Bob.
A year ago at this time, with trainer Bob Baffert on suspension owing to the medication positive incurred by Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Yakteen deputized over the development of 3-year-olds Taiba and Messier. Those two horses ran one-two in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, qualifying both for the Kentucky Derby, where Taiba finished 12th and Messier 15th as the second and fourth choices, respectively.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Wet Paint should appreciate the added ground she will pick up next month in the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday.
Wet Paint will be looking for her fourth consecutive stakes win when she starts in the 1 1/8 miles classic for 3-year-old fillies May 5 at Churchill Downs.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - 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.
“Four weeks and six days to go,” Pletcher said after confirming that all was well with Forte, who returned to his regular stall at the Palm Beach Downs training center earlier that morning.
