Mon, 12/16/2019 - 13:15

Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Springboard Mile analysis

Dustin Orona Photography
Shoplifted holds off Answer In by a head to win the Springboard Mile, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 87. Embolden (No. 8) finished third.

Listed, $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile, one mile, Remington, Dec. 15, 2019

Thu, 12/12/2019 - 10:16

Road to the Derby: Remsen Stakes analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Shotski prevailed by a half-length in Saturday's Grade 2 Remsen.

Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, Dec. 7, 2019

 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

 

Winner: Shotski, by Blame

Trainer: Jeremiah O’Dwyer

Jockey: Luis Saez

Owner: Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Gary Pantofel Stable, and Mike Karty

Beyer Speed Figure: 86

 

Sun, 12/01/2019 - 18:47

Field favored in Pool 1 of 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed as usual as a decisive favorite in Pool 1 of the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern after a four-day wagering window.

With $284,317 in the win pool, the field (No. 24) closed at even-money and was followed by Tiz the Law (11-1), Dennis’ Moment (12-1), Independence Hall (13-1), and Maxfield (13-1), with all other separately listed horses at 24-1 or higher. “Any filly,” offered as No. 23, closed at 57-1.

Wed, 11/27/2019 - 12:46

Tiz the Law gets feel for track ahead of Kentucky Jockey Club

Barbara D. Livingston
Tiz the Law did not break well and was steadied early, but he and jockey Manny Franco were four lengths clear of the field at the finish of the Champagne.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tiz the Law, the unbeaten 2-year-old whose chances of earning a divisional Eclipse Award depend heavily on how he runs here Saturday in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, got his first feel for the track with an easy jog Wednesday morning over a sloppy Churchill oval. Exercise rider Heather Smullen was up, with trainer Barclay Tagg alongside aboard a pony. The colt also gate-schooled.

“He surprises us every day with what he has,” Tagg said. “It’s what we look for and hope for.”

Mon, 11/25/2019 - 13:56

Field pegged at 6-5 for Pool 1 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Independence Hall earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure while winning the one-mile Nashua in his second career start.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 22nd year of Churchill Downs offering parimutuel futures on the Kentucky Derby starts Thursday, when the first of four pools toward the 2020 Derby opens at noon Eastern.

There will be 22 separately listed wagering interests; a “filly only” interest, which debuted last year in Pool 1, offered as No. 23; and a mutuel field (No. 24), which has closed as the Pool 1 favorite every year since Churchill first unveiled the Kentucky Derby Future Wager in 1999.

Sat, 11/16/2019 - 09:48

Wests plan to appeal dismissal of suit on Maximum Security's Derby DQ

Jim Leuenberger
Maximum Security (right) can be seen interfering with War of Will (visible behind him) on the final turn in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A federal judge in Kentucky has granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that had been filed by the owners of Maximum Security seeking to overturn a decision by the stewards to disqualify the horse from first place in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Tue, 10/08/2019 - 11:25

Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Breeders' Futurity analysis

Coady Photography
Maxfield, with Jose Ortiz riding, wins the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity, 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland, Oct. 5, 2019

(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Maxfield, by Street Sense
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Godolphin LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 86

Sun, 10/06/2019 - 14:01

Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Champagne Stakes analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Tiz the Law earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89 for his victory in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes.

Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes, one mile, Belmont Park, Oct. 5, 2019
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Tiz the Law, by Constitution
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
Jockey: Manny Franco
Owner: Sackatoga Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 89

Barclay Tagg and Sackatoga Stable with a talented New York-bred? Sounds like the Funny Cide train is about to leave the station again.

Wed, 09/25/2019 - 20:22

Fair Grounds adjusts distances of Kentucky Derby preps

Barbara D. Livingston
Fair Grounds will add distance to the Lecomte, Risen Star, and Louisiana Derby in 2020.

Fair Grounds is hoping adding distance will add appeal to its 3-year-old dirt-route stakes races in 2020.

The New Orleans track disseminated a news release Wednesday announcing its 2019-2020 stakes schedule, which reportedly was published online last week. The program includes 56 stakes worth $7.13 million, or almost the same overall stakes commitment as last season, when the track hosted 56 stakes worth $6.89 million.

Sat, 09/14/2019 - 18:36

Dennis' Moment cruises to Iroquois Stakes win

Coady Photography
Dennis' Moment, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, wins the Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Often times, the hype proves unjustified. But when Dennis’ Moment cruised to a geared-down, stakes-record victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, even some of his skeptics had to concede the colt has a bright future.

“This showed what a good colt he is,” said Dale Romans, the locally based trainer who has helped fuel the hype with glowing talk about the Tiznow colt. “Our focus for now will be the Breeders’ Cup, but everybody knows what lies beyond that.”