Sat, 04/19/2025 - 13:07

Brown getting Ballerina d'Oro ready in search of first Oaks victory

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Chad Brown worked Ballerina d'Oro at Belmont Saturday in preparation for the Kentucky Oaks.

ELMONT, N.Y. – While trainer Chad Brown will have to wait at least another year to try and win his first Kentucky Derby, the five-time Eclipse Award winning trainer will have a chance to win his first Kentucky Oaks with Ballerina d’Oro in two weeks.

Ballerina d’Oro’s nose victory as the 3-5 favorite over Early On in the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on April 5 may not have attracted many onto her bandwagon, but Ballerina d’Oro did look solid Saturday morning working a half-mile in 47.88 seconds over Belmont Park’s training track in preparation for the May 2 Oaks.

Sat, 04/19/2025 - 11:32

Kentucky Derby 2025: Journalism gets back to work with maintenance move

By Brad Free

Benoit Photo

Journalism worked for the first time Saturday following his Santa Anita Derby win.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The streaking 3-year-old Journalism, early favorite for the Kentucky Derby after his impressive victory in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, posted his first workout since then early Saturday at Santa Anita.

The half-mile work seemed like a maintenance drill, and those who liked Journalism before his 47-second half-mile work will still like him after. He does things easily.

Sat, 04/19/2025 - 10:20

Kentucky Derby 2025: Cox continues busy week with Final Gambit's work at Churchill Downs

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

Final Gambit (left) worked in company with Coffee Talk (right) Saturday over the Churchill Downs dirt.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s been a busy 72 hours or so, with plenty of miles covered, for trainer Brad Cox.

Fri, 04/18/2025 - 13:51

Madaket Road to Pat Day Mile, not Derby; Citizen Bull works without blinkers

By David Grening

Citizen Bull wins Robert B. Lewis at SA Feb 1 2025

Benoit Photo

Citizen Bull has not worn blinkers in his last two workouts and will not wear them in the Kentucky Derby.

Madaket Road, runner-up in the Rebel and fourth in the Florida Derby, will be pointed to the Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile on the undercard of the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday afternoon.

“That’s sort of been our goal all along, that’s a better distance for him,” Baffert said.

Fri, 04/18/2025 - 13:01

Kentucky Derby 2025: American Promise drills seven furlongs from the gate

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

American Promise was timed in 1:25.20 from the gate on Friday following splits of 22.00, 45.80, 57.80, and six furlongs in 1:11.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Virginia Derby winner American Promise had a major work Friday morning at his Oaklawn Park base as he continues preparations for the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said last week the horse would have his final work at Churchill Downs.

American Promise on Friday worked seven furlongs from the gate in 1:25.20. The track was fast on a sunny morning with temperatures in the high 60s. American Promise worked in the first set after the renovation break, about 9:10 a.m. Central.

Fri, 04/18/2025 - 12:57

Kentucky Derby 2025: Tappan Street just cruising in five-furlong work

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Tappan Street turned in his second sharp workout at Payson Park on Friday since winning the Florida Derby for trainer Brad Cox.

INDIANTOWN, Fla. – Trainer Brad Cox’s decision to keep Florida Derby winner Tappan Street at his newly adopted winter home of Payson Park an extra couple of weeks to prepare for his upcoming start in the Kentucky Derby continues to pay dividends.

On Friday, Tappan Street turned in a second strong work over the Payson Park strip since his 1 1/4-length victory over Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stablemate Rapture.

Wed, 04/16/2025 - 13:38

Kentucky Derby 2025: Chunk of Gold a one in a million horse

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Chris Melton bought Kentucky Derby hopeful Chunk of Gold at a fall yearling sale for $2,500.

This week, at the 2-year-old-in-training sale in Ocala, Fla., millions of dollars will be spent on horses by people dreaming of getting to the Kentucky Derby.

Chris Melton found a Derby horse for $2,500.

Melton may no longer own a piece of the 3-year-old Chunk of Gold, runner-up in the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes this winter at Fair Grounds, but he will have a story to tell should Chunk of Gold pull an upset in Kentucky Derby 151 at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Wed, 04/16/2025 - 12:46

Kentucky Derby 2025: After team huddle, Owen Almighty rejoins field

By David Grening

Tom Keyser

Trainer Brian Lynch has expressed concerns about Owen Almighty getting 1 1/4 miles.

Owen Almighty, the Tampa Bay Derby winner who finished in a dead heat for sixth in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, is back in the field for the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, his connections said Wednesday.

“We’re going to give it a shot,” said Hunter Rankin, president of Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing, the racing operation of Travis Boersma. “He’s earned a spot, we’re going to use it and take a shot as long as he’s doing well going into the race.”

Wed, 04/16/2025 - 11:10

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 18, 2025

By Brad Free

Tom Keyser

Owen Almighty was unplaced in the Blue Grass after winning the Tampa Bay Derby.

WHO’S HOT

Except for the curious case of Owen Almighty, it was a relatively quiet week for Kentucky Derby aspirants. Some 24 horses remain under consideration according to Churchill Downs, including Journalism, the 3-1 early favorite on the Daily Racing Form Derby Watch Top 20 odds line by David Aragona.

Tue, 04/15/2025 - 12:10

River Thames to skip Kentucky Derby, point to Preakness

By David Grening

River Thames at Palm Beach Downs in March 2025

Susie Raisher

River Thames has raced four times this year and Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm said the Maclean's Music colt will benefit from having two extra weeks to train before the Preakness.

River Thames, most recently third in the Blue Grass Stakes, will bypass the Kentucky Derby and point to the Preakness on May 17, Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which co-owns the colt, said Tuesday.

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