LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When Matareya earned her first career Grade 1 victory last year in the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, her performance was somewhat lost in conversations involving Eclipse Award champion Echo Zulu, who had been a veterinarian scratch on the way to the gate. On Saturday, Matareya won another Grade 1, but there was a lot of chatter about the troubled trip for reigning divisional champion Goodnight Olive in the Derby City Distaff.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The two stakes winners at Santa Anita on Saturday could not have more diverse pedigrees.
One is a filly with world-class bloodlines who won her first stakes in her fifth start. The other is a California-bred gelding bought for a modest sum who has won three stakes in California and throughout the Southwest.
The filly Teena Ella is supposed to be a graded stakes winner, considering she is by War Front and is out of the four-time champion Beholder, who was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame last year.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was business as usual at trainer Brendan Walsh's Churchill Downs barn on Saturday morning, with the trainer on horseback accompanying several sets to the track in the early, shortened training hours on Derby Day. But it wasn't quite usual in the shed row, with Pretty Mischievous relaxing in her stall behind her winning blanket of Kentucky Oaks lilies.
"I don't think so, no," Walsh said when asked if the victory, his first in the filly classic, was sinking in yet. "I think it will after the weekend. Pretty surreal."
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Forte, the favorite for Saturday’s 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, was scratched out of the race by Kentucky state veterinarians Saturday morning due to a minor bruise in his right front foot.
Forte had been dealing with a bruise since mid-week, but did not miss a day of training. On Friday, Forte had galloped with a three-quarter shoe, to, as trainer Todd Pletcher said, relieve pressure from the tender area.
Total betting on the 13-race Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Friday set a record of $74.9 million, according to Churchill Downs, a slight gain over the record of $74.6 million set last year. Wagering on the Oaks itself, however, was down 7.8 percent.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the last two years, horses based in Japan have captured some of the biggest international prizes in Thoroughbred racing.
In 2021, at Del Mar, there were victories by March Lorraine and Loves Only You in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Filly and Mare Turf, respectively. This year, Panthalassa led a 1-3-4-5 finish by Japan horses in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Ushba Tesoro won the $12 million Dubai World Cup and Equinox was devastating winning the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Skinner, the third-place finisher in the Santa Anita Derby, has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to an elevated temperature, according to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Skinner became the fourth horse to scratch from the Derby in 24 hours, joining Practical Move, Lord Miles, and Continuar.
The Derby will be run, for now, with 19 horses.
According to the Churchill Downs media department, the last time four horses scratched from the Kentucky Derby was in 2015 when 22 horses were entered.
This story will be updated.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Practical Move, winner of the Santa Anita Derby and a major player in the Kentucky Derby, will have to scratch out of the race due to a temperature, trainer Tim Yakteen said Thursday afternoon.
“We spiked a temperature,” Yakteen said. “It started climbing right after training when we do our due diligence. He didn’t jump into the feed tub like he usually does. We temp our horses routinely, that’s when it was recognized.”
It will be business as usual when the 2023 live meet at Emerald Downs gets under way Saturday. Business as usual means promotions, promotions, and more promotions.
“Corgis, wiener dogs, bull dogs, T-Rexes, Family Fun Day, they are all back,” Emerald president Phil Ziegler said. “We have something planned every weekend. We try to make it fun. Whenever somebody shows up, it should be special for them.”
One of the most popular events is the T-Rex races, scheduled for Aug. 20.
Stewards at Churchill Downs have granted a request by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. to be allowed to scratch horses he trains from races at the track on Thursday and Friday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said. Joseph also said that he intends to ask for permission to scratch three horses on the Saturday card, though not his entrant in the Kentucky Derby.
