Sun, 02/14/2021 - 17:25

2021 Road to the Derby: El Camino Real Derby analysis

Shane Micheli/ Vassar Photography
Rombauer wins the 2021 El Camino Real Derby. He later won that year's Preakness. The winner of the El Camino Real wins an automatic berth to the Preakness.

Listed, $101,350 El Camino Real Derby, 1 1/8 miles (all weather), Golden Gate Fields, Feb. 13, 2021 
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Rombauer, by Twirling Candy

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Jockey: Kyle Frey

Owners: John and Diane Fradkin

Beyer Speed Figure: 84

Sun, 02/14/2021 - 13:10

Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby: Risen Star Stakes analysis

Hodges Photography
Mandaloun resuelve a su favor el Risen Star S.

Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 13, 2021

(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Mandaloun, by Into Mischief

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Owner: Juddmonte Farms Inc.

Beyer Speed Figure: 98

Fri, 02/12/2021 - 11:16

Prevalence stays on course for Fountain Youth or allowance

Barbara D. Livingston
Prevalence, who won his only start by 8 1/2 lengths, will probably run in an allowance race or the Fountain of Youth next.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence, one of the more exciting prospects for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, was out for serious work again early Friday, going five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast track at the Palm Meadows training center.

Thu, 02/11/2021 - 11:46

Petruchio, Javanica ship up for El Camino Real Derby

Coady Photography
Javanica is the lone filly in Saturday's El Camino Real Derby field.

Derby fever will come to a boil Saturday at Golden Gate Fields when the 40th El Camino Real Derby is run with a field of nine.

The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta main track, offers 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a berth in the Preakness to the winner.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Thu, 02/11/2021 - 11:30

Lecomte top three to meet again on front end of Risen Star

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Midnight Bourbon wins the Lecomte over Proxy (center) and Mandaloun. The trio ran one-two-three for much of the race.

Tuesday in New Orleans will be the quietest Mardi Gras ever. COVID-19, which spread through the city after Mardi Gras 2020, has smothered the annual public bacchanal. Not even the famous parades Rex, and Zulu, and Endymion, which snakes a couple blocks from the Fair Grounds, will roll.

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 15:36

Southwest horseman Fincher brings unbeaten Senor Buscador to Risen Star

Dustin Orona Photography
Senor Buscador wins the $200,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

None of the trainer Todd Fincher’s 6,000-plus starters have raced at Fair Grounds. Fincher is a New Mexico horseman. His stomping grounds are Albuquerque, Ruidoso, Sunland, Zia. He breaks yearlings at a facility not far from Sunland, which sits along the Rio Grande outside El Paso. But Fincher has been given good reason to travel farther afield the last several months. The reason is a colt named Senor Buscador.

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 15:36

Keepmeinmind staying home for rescheduled Southwest Stakes

Coady Photography
Keepmeinmind ganando el Kentucky Jockey Club S.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Keepmeinmind, the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner who had been entered in the Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds, will remain home and run in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday.

The Southwest has been rescheduled from Monday to next Saturday, Feb. 20, because Oaklawn has canceled racing Saturday to Monday due to a forecast for frigid weather.

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 14:40

Kentucky Derby 2021: Cox has three legitimate chances

Barbara D. Livingston
Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality is scheduled to begind his 3-year-old season in the Southwest Stakes, which has been pushed back to Feb. 20 because of winter weather.

Brad Cox grew up just two blocks from the back gate at Churchill Downs, close enough to espy the twin spires with a quick walk, or hear the roar of the crowd in the afternoon when the races were being run. The racing bug bit him early, and never left.

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 12:46

Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Essential Quality

Barbara D. Livingston
Essential Quality wins the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in his last start as a 2-year-old.

Essential Quality
Tapit – Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin

Tapit, among the most successful sires in modern classic history, has three individuals in the first Derby Watch Top 20 list. That trio is led by Godolphin’s homebred Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality, already a multiple Grade 1 winner around two turns.

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 12:40

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 10, 2021

WHO’S HOT