Kentucky Derby bettors have waited two decades for another horse like War Emblem, the 2002 Derby winner whose odds were out of whack compared to his last-start speed figure.

War Emblem earned a gaudy 112 Beyer the start before the Kentucky Derby, seven points higher than any rival’s last start. However, War Emblem earned the number defeating lesser company in a lesser race – the Illinois Derby at Sportsman’s Park. Few horseplayers trusted him to reproduce the number against better company at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs

Monday, May 1

Weather: Showery

Temperature: 47°

Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Light rain was falling and temperatures were unseasonably cold once again when the racetrack opened for business at 5:15 a.m. Monday at Churchill Downs, with the trainers of this year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks starters now in the process of putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the two big events now just days away.

One week out from the Kentucky Derby, this Saturday of North American racing is the calm before the storm. Rain on the East Coast and short fields in Southern California have us looking farther afield for three plays.

San Francisco Mile

Churchill Downs
Wednesday, April 26
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 46
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A serious drill by the two Japanese contenders in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Derma Sotogake and Continuar, and a test run with the addition of blinkers for Sun Thunder highlighted Wednesday’s Derby-Oaks training session at Churchill Downs.