Sun, 04/26/2015 - 13:23

Work All Week breezes towards 2015 debut

Nikki Sherman
Work All Week went a half-mile in 48.20 in his first published work since winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Champion sprinter Work All Week, unraced since winning the Breeder’s Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, breezed five furlongs in 59.20 seconds over a “good” track Sunday at Churchill Downs Trackside as he prepares for his first start of 2015.

Sun, 04/26/2015 - 12:48

American Pharoah solidifies status as Kentucky Derby favorite

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah, with Martin Garcia aboard, breezes five furlongs in 58.62 seconds.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The ease and speed of his wins made American Pharoah the acknowledged favorite for the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, and he certainly solidified that position on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with final workout that was both fast and seemingly effortless.

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 18:45

Del Mar's new racing surface ready for action

Del Mar completed installation of its dirt track earlier this week, a month before the course will be used for the first time. The new track will be used for training in advance of the Barretts sale of 2-year-olds on May 28. Del Mar’s summer race meeting runs from July 16 to Sept. 7.

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 14:50

American Pharoah will keep special foot plate in Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah has been racing and training with a plate covering part of the sole of his left front foot.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – American Pharoah has been racing and training with a plate covering part of the sole of his left front foot, and on Saturday, trainer Bob Baffert said he would keep that plate in place for the Kentucky Derby, in which American Pharoah is expected to be the favorite.

“I was going to take it off to run him, but he’s had it there so long I don’t want to change,” Baffert said from California. “He’s traveling so well with it.”

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 12:43

Kentucky Derby: Busy morning of workouts for contenders

Barbara D. Livingston
Tencendur works five furlongs Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Beginning with Carpe Diem well before dawn at Keeneland and concluding with Dortmund later in the morning three time zones away at Santa Anita, a total of 10 prospects for the May 2 Kentucky Derby worked Saturday at seven different locales.

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 11:53

Bayern's work has Baffert pondering change in plans

Barbara D. Livingston
Bayern is being polnted to the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bayern, unraced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November, recorded a sharp six-furlong workout at Santa Anita on Saturday that left trainer Bob Baffert pondering which lucrative stakes to try at Churchill Downs next weekend.

Bayern worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:10.80 with stablemate Cat Burglar, who has not raced since finishing third in the Brooklyn Stakes at Belmont Park last June. The pair went as a team throughout the workout.

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 10:56

Upstart puts in strong final work toward Derby

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Less than three weeks ago, it looked like Upstart’s Kentucky Derby status was in trouble when he developed a temperature and had some nasal discharge.

After watching his 3-year-old breeze a sharp five furlongs Saturday morning at Palm Meadows, trainer Rick Violette believes that “is not an issue.”

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 10:43

El Kabeir sharp in morning workout

ELMONT, N.Y. – Despite difficult weather conditions, El Kabeir prospered over the winter in New York, winning the Gotham and Jerome, finishing second in the Withers, and placing third in the Wood Memorial.

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 10:00

Carpe Diem looks settled in final pre-Derby work

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Carpe Diem breezes four furlongs Saturday morning at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Multiple Grade 1 winner Carpe Diem, expected to be the third or fourth wagering choice for next week's Kentucky Derby, turned in his final major piece of work Saturday morning at Keeneland, breezing four furlongs in 48.60 seconds.

Fri, 04/24/2015 - 22:03

Lone Star cancels remainder of Friday card after severe storm

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Lone Star Park on Friday night was forced to cancel its second through ninth races, including the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile, after a severe thunderstorm moved into the area. The Texas Mile has been rescheduled for next Friday night, May 1, according to Bart Lang, director of racing for Lone Star.

Lone Star was able to get its first race off Friday, but heavy rains hit soon afterward and horses were delayed in the saddling paddock for the second race. The races were called off about 7:35 p.m. Central.