Sun, 04/14/2019 - 18:19

Road to the 2019 Kentucky Derby: Arkansas Derby analysis

Coady Photography
Omaha Beach returned $5.40 for his victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park, April 13, 2019
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)
Winner: Omaha Beach, by War Front
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Fox Hill Farms Inc.
Beyer Speed Figure: 101

Sun, 04/14/2019 - 13:22

Omaha Beach headed to Churchill on Tuesday

Coady Photography
Omaha Beach earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101 for his victory in the Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Omaha Beach emerged from his Saturday win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in “great shape” and will soon head to Churchill Downs to begin preparations for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday.

Sat, 04/13/2019 - 20:36

Kentucky Derby 2019 point standings

Kentucky Derby 2019 point standings

Leaderboard for qualifying points to the 2019 Kentucky Derby, which will be run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Points are earned by the top four finishers in designated Kentucky Derby prep races.

Sat, 04/13/2019 - 14:48

Maximum Security takes it easy in first work back

Ronnie Betor
Maximum Security worked for the first time Saturday since winning the March 30 Florida Derby.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Maximum Security was back on the work tab Saturday for the first time since his wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby two weeks ago – although not in the manner one might expect from an undefeated 3-year-old considered to be among the leading candidates just three weeks down the road in the Kentucky Derby.

Sat, 04/13/2019 - 10:14

War of Will sharp in five-furlong gate work

Barbara D. Livingston
War of Will, ninth in the Louisiana Derby, has been in light training at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tyler Gaffalione was smiling as he and War of Will walked back to the barn. If horses could smile, War of Will might have matched his rider.

"He had running on his mind today," Gaffalione said after Kentucky Derby candidate War of Will worked a sharp five furlongs from the gate in 59 seconds flat on Saturday morning at Keeneland. "He came back happy. He's real proud of himself."

Fri, 04/12/2019 - 14:26

Pletcher works Kentucky Derby possibles Cutting Humor and Spinoff

Coady Photography
Cutting Humor (right) holds off Anothertwistafate to win the Sunland Derby on Sunday.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher had to catch a flight out of town Friday. But before heading to the airport, Pletcher spent the early morning hours sending out more than two dozen horses to work at his winter-spring headquarters at Palm Beach Downs, a group that included potential Kentucky Derby starters Cutting Humor and Spinoff.

Thu, 04/11/2019 - 15:26

Strong cast for Arkansas Derby features both Rebel winners

Coady Photography
Long Range Toddy, shown Thursday at Oaklawn Park, won a division of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes last out.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday has brought together 11 hopefuls for the Kentucky Derby, including the winners of both divisions of last month’s Rebel – Omaha Beach and Long Range Toddy – a Bob Baffert shipper in Improbable, and popular multiple stakes winners Galilean and Gray Attempt.

Thu, 04/11/2019 - 11:35

Cardinal Conditions Stakes goes to Bye Bye Hong Kong

Bye Bye Hong Kong won the $77,000 Cardinal Conditions Stakes on Thursday at Chelmsford in the final leg of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby.

His neck victory over Antilles all but assured the Euro Road to the Derby won’t yield a Kentucky Derby starter this year.