Thu, 05/01/2025 - 13:23

Smooth Cruisein, the winner in Journalism's lone loss, may return to stakes action

By Steve Andersen
Shigeki Kikkawa
Smoothcruisein's trainer, Karen Headley, shown here with father Bruce, is rooting for Journalism in the Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. – So far, only two colts have finished in front of Journalism, the favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

One of them, Smooth Cruisein, won an allowance race at Santa Anita last Saturday in a career-best effort that has left trainer Karen Headley and co-owner Marsha Naify hopeful he can become a stakes winner in coming months.

Journalism has started five times, starting with a third behind Smooth Cruisein and Mellencamp in a maiden race at Santa Anita last October. Journalism has not lost since.

Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:50

Kentucky Derby 2025: Baffert gets warm welcome in his return for the roses

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
At his barn, Baffert speaks with the media in front of plaques commemorating his accomplishments at Churchill Downs, where he has won six Kentucky Derbies.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The plaques listing the names of his six Kentucky Derby winners, three Kentucky Oaks winners, and a few other Grade 1 victors are back on the wall outside of Bob Baffert’s barn 33 at Churchill Downs.

Perhaps more importantly, Baffert himself is back, holding court in front of those plaques, which includes the names of American Pharoah and Justify, his two Triple Crown winners.

“My life is on that wall,” Baffert said. “My greatest achievements are on that wall. It’s good to see them.”

For Baffert, it’s good to be seen again at Churchill Downs.

Thu, 05/01/2025 - 09:52

Kentucky Derby 2025: All the storylines converge

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 89, will be looking for his fifth Derby win with American Promise.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At the annual trainers’ dinner Tuesday night, one of the many events that are part of the landscape of Kentucky Derby week, 32-year-old Ethan West, a first-time starter at the Kentucky Derby, found himself sitting at a table with 89-year-old D. Wayne Lukas, whose first of 50 Derby starters came in 1981.

“That was our table – me, my wife, my oldest son, and Mr. and Mrs. Lukas,” West said. “That was pretty special to us. I don’t know if they did that as a joke – the oldest and youngest in the room.”

Wed, 04/30/2025 - 13:57

Kentucky Derby Clocker: Putting the final touches on

By Mike Welsch
Barbara D. Livingston
Second choice Sovereignty gallops Wednesday, continuing to look impressive in the morning.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Wednesday, April 30
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Fast
Temperature: 62 degrees

Wed, 04/30/2025 - 12:38

Kentucky Derby 2025: First-time jockeys and trainers

By Nicole Russo
Barbara D. Livingston
Nik Juarez, a 31-year-old jockey from Maryland, rides American Promise in this year’s Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nik Juarez will ride in his first Kentucky Derby on Saturday when he climbs aboard American Promise. The guys around him know the ropes pretty well.

Tue, 04/29/2025 - 14:01

Kentucky Derby 2025: Mott, Alvarado have special chemistry

By Marcus Hersh
Barbara D. Livingston
Hall of Famer Bill Mott looks to win his second Kentucky Derby title with Sovereignty.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – You conduct a phone interview with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. You ask a question. A second or two, nothing happens, that thick silence that cloaks a paused telephone conversation. Mott speaks. His answer is short, cursory. Another pause. Something more coming? You begin another query, gently prodding, but Mott has started talking again. He builds on his initial response. Pause. This time you wait. Mott resumes. The sentences expand. The door has opened.

Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:01

Kentucky Derby Clocker: Not much to glean from Japanese horses' works

By Mike Welsch
Barbara D. Livingston
Luxor Cafe works five furlongs in 1:02.44 Tuesday morning in his first serious local drill for Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Clear 
Track: Fast
Temperature: 71 degrees

Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:25

Kentucky Derby 2025: Japanese shippers work five furlongs

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Luxor Cafe, a Kentucky-bred son of American Pharoah, will bring a four-race winning streak into the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Forever Young set the bar for Japan-based horses participating in the Kentucky Derby when he was beaten a head at odds of 7-1 in last year’s race while getting bumped in deep stretch.

Forever Young and T O Password, who finished fifth at odds of 48-1, have produced the two best finishes among eight Japan-based horses to compete in the Kentucky Derby.

Saturday, in Kentucky Derby 151, Japan will be represented by Luxor Cafe and Admire Daytona, both of whom are coming off stakes wins, but neither of whom are being fancied like Forever Young was last year.

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:50

Kentucky Derby 2025: Asmussen sends Tiztastic, Publisher with hopes to finally end drought

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Tiztastic, winner of the Louisiana Derby, is part of a Steve Asmussen-trained duo entered for Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – He used to be anxious about it. Then he got defensive. Now, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen seems somewhat philosophical about the fact he has yet to win the Kentucky Derby.

Asmussen, North America’s winningest trainer with 10,861 career victories, has started 26 horses in 18 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. He has three seconds and two thirds.

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