Trainer Chad Brown’s original plan was to run Noble Tune last month in the Grade 1 Blue Grass. But after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up did not work to Brown’s satisfaction over the Polytrack at Keeneland, he went to Plan B, Friday’s $200,000 American Turf at Churchill Downs.
Noble Tune tops a full field of 11 3-year-olds who will go 1 1/16 miles on the turf in the Grade 2 American Turf. Other key contenders include Admiral Kitten, War Dancer, Fire Guard, and Positively.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bill Mott said that as Calistoga neared her debut earlier this year, he thought she had the quality to develop into a Grade 1 sprinter, perhaps in something like the Test Stakes this summer at Saratoga. Two starts later, both wins, he’s still of that opinion.
[2013 KENTUCKY OAKS: Get PPs, read live ontrack updates]
“She’s done nothing wrong,” Mott said at his Churchill Downs barn the other morning. “Now we’re getting to the point where we’ll really find out.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Flashy Gray will scratch from Friday’s $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs due to a bruised right front foot, trainer Bill Mott said Wednesday afternoon.
[2013 KENTUCKY OAKS: Get PPs, read live ontrack updates]
Her scratch will reduce the star-studded Oaks field to 10, including the Mott-trained Close Hatches, who will move in from post 11.
Mott said the bruise was detected following the filly’s Wednesday morning gallop.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At this time last year, Believe You Can and On Fire Baby were among the leaders of the 3-year-old filly division. Their seasons cut short due to infirmities, Believe You Can and On Fire Baby have come back to form as 4-year-olds, combining to win three stakes in as many tries.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Bob Tiller sends out two uncoupled daughters of the late Bold Executive in Friday’s Woodbine headliner, Very Dry Dancer and Princess Pick. Both have a shot in the 6 1/2-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired nonwinners of three.
Very Dry Dancer was a non-threatening fifth as the favorite in her April 21 season opener, in which she got away slowly from the one-hole. It took her 11 tries to clear the nonwinners-of-two allowance condition, and she finally turned the trick on closing day here Dec. 16.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A total of 21 horses were entered Wednesday morning for Saturday’s $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Post positions were to be drawn Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern during a one-hour show broadcast on NBC Sports Network.
Giant Finish, a New York-bred who was announced as an entry late Tuesday, pushed Fear the Kitten to the also-eligible list. A horse would have to scratch by 9 a.m. Friday in order for Fear the Kitten to make it into the field.
[bc_playlist_id:290937:]
Field for the 2013 Kentucky Derby. Click horse names to access contender profiles including race record, replays, and handicapping analysis video by Dan Illman and Mike Beer. MORE: Get Kentucky Derby PPs, watch video previews, read latest updates »
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Talk about Derby fever.
Less than 24 hours before entries were to close for Saturday’s $2 million Kentucky Derby, the connections of the New York-bred and Maryland-based Giant Finish announced they would enter the race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. − Three winners from the two-day Breeders’ Cup program last fall at Santa Anita are expected in action this weekend at Churchill.
Wise Dan, who capped his Horse of the Year campaign by winning the BC Mile, will run in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard, and Beholder, winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies, goes in the Kentucky Oaks.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Led by 2012 Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can, 54 horses were entered in five supporting stakes on Friday’s Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs.
Believe You Can, coming off a pair of blowout victories in stakes at Fair Grounds this winter, is matched against Apple Blossom winner On Fire Baby and five others in the first of the five stakes, the Grade 2, $300,000 La Troienne, which goes as the sixth race.
