Wed, 02/05/2025 - 11:24

Kentucky Derby 2025: Baffert could run two in Saudi Derby

Benoit Photo
Getaway Car is one of two horses trainer Bob Baffert is considering for the $1.5 million Saudi Derby on Feb. 22.

Bob Baffert is contemplating the $1.5 million Saudi Derby on Feb. 22 for Getaway Car and Romanesque, though Baffert’s itinerary for 3-year-olds is subject to change.

“This is when I nominate everywhere, I even nominated to Sunland Park,” Baffert said.

His nominees to the $400,000 Sunland Derby on Feb. 16 include Barnes, Gaming, Getaway Car, Romanesque, and San Saba. Post positions for the Sunland Derby will be drawn Sunday.

A pair that might be better suited to distances shorter than 1 1/4 miles are tentatively scheduled to ship the Middle East.

Wed, 02/05/2025 - 11:21

Kentucky Derby 2025: Godolphin has four good shots in bid for first win

Debra A. Roma
East Avenue never had a chance after a poor start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He has been working steadily toward his 2025 debut, the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds.

Recently honored with its fifth consecutive Eclipse Award for leading owner and having campaigned seven equine North American champions over the last four years, Godolphin – the global operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum – has achieved a remarkable amount of success in the United States.

Wed, 02/05/2025 - 11:06

Kentucky Derby 2025: First Resort trying to catch up on missed training

Coady Media
First Resort is scheduled to run in the John Battaglia on Feb. 22 at Turfway Park.

While his Grade 2 Remsen winner Poster runs Saturday in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Eoin Harty also looks forward to the return of First Resort, winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in his most recent start Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs. First Resort is headed to the John Battaglia Stakes, a synthetic-surface race Feb. 22 at Turfway Park.

Wed, 02/05/2025 - 10:58

Kentucky Derby 2025: After minor setback, Journalism back on track

Barbara D. Livingston
Journalism had a minor setback with a temperature after his win in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Journalism’s splashy arrival as a leading California 3-year-old hit a setback after his impressive win Dec. 14 in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. But if a Derby candidate must have a setback, there is no better time than December or January.

“He got a temp not long after he ran, from a vaccination,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Just decided to let him get over it himself. It actually might have been better. Instead of rushing to make this spot, or [that spot], it worked out for the best. He looks fantastic. I mean, he looks really well.”

Mon, 02/03/2025 - 12:39

Derby hopefuls Burnham Square, River Thames contemplate next moves

Adam Coglianese/Coglianese Photos
Trainer Ian Wilkes reported that all is well for Burnham Square coming off his Holy Bull victory Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Holy Bull winner Burnham Square and the exciting prospect River Thames are two of four 3-year-olds who competed here Saturday who could possibly return in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1 or await the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29.

Thu, 01/30/2025 - 11:59

Baffert trio looks to give trainer seventh straight Lewis win

Debra A. Roma
Eclipse Award winner Citizen Bull will be no walkover in his 3-year-old debut on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s always exciting when a champion 2-year-old returns for his first start at age 3, but Eclipse Award winner Citizen Bull is no walkover Saturday at Santa Anita.

There is one virtual certainty, however: Trainer Bob Baffert is likely to score his seventh straight victory in the one-mile, Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis. It helps to have the best horses, as well as the most horses, and Baffert starts three: Citizen Bull, maiden route winner Rodriguez, and maiden sprint winner Madaket Road.

Mon, 01/27/2025 - 11:58

Treaty of Rome likely to Sam Davis

Barbara D. Livingston
Chad Brown has liked what he’s seen from Treaty of Rome since a second-place finish in the Mucho Macho Man.

Treaty of Rome, beaten a neck by Guns Loaded in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 4, was not entered for Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Instead, he will be pointed to the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa on Feb. 8, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.

Though Brown also mentioned the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 as a possibility for Treaty of Rome, he said he is leaning toward the Sam Davis.

Thu, 01/23/2025 - 14:47

Journalism resumes works, targeting San Felipe return

Benoit Photo
Journalism was briefly out of training earlier this month because of illness.

Journalism, one of California’s leading prospects for the Triple Crown, worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday, his first work since a win in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 14. 

Thu, 01/16/2025 - 13:10

Built favored in full Lecomte as Derby chase intensifies

Coady Media
Built stands a strong chance of tacking 20 more Kentucky Derby qualifying points onto the 10 he earned winning the Gun Runner.

The Fair Grounds starting gate can accommodate 14 runners, and 14 3-year-olds are entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Lecomte Stakes, the first race in the second tier of qualifying races that comprise Churchill Downs’s Road to the Kentucky Derby.

There’s not always strength in numbers, however, and Built, the 3-1 Lecomte morning-line favorite, stands a strong chance of tacking 20 more Kentucky Derby qualifying points onto the 10 he earned winning the Gun Runner last month.

Tue, 01/14/2025 - 10:59

Baffert trainee Barnes the individual favorite in latest Kentucky Derby future pool

Benoit Photo
San Vincente winner Barnes is undefeated for six-time Derby champ Bob Baffert.

Barnes, the runaway winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes, has been made the 10-1 individual favorite for the third installment of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, according to a list distributed by Churchill Downs on Tuesday.