Sat, 05/04/2024 - 08:30

Kentucky Derby 2024: Free picks and analysis from Daily Racing Form handicappers

Kentucky Derby picks and analysis from Daily Racing Form handicappers across the North America.

2024 Kentucky Derby (Race 12)
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Track: Churchill Downs
Post time: 6:57 p.m. Eastern
TV: NBC

Kentucky Derby field

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 14:00

Kentucky Derby: 150 years of history on the track

Photo courtesy of National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 1915 for owner Harry Payne Whitney (right).

1875 – Hal Price McGrath’s Aristides wins the first Kentucky Derby with Oliver Lewis aboard for trainer Ansel Williamson. The first Derby is run at 1 1/2 miles.

1882 – Apollo wins the Derby without having run as a 2-year-old. No other horse would accomplish that feat – “the curse of Apollo” – until Justify 136 years later.

1913 – Donerail takes the Derby at a shocking 91-1, to this day the longest odds ever for a Kentucky Derby winner.

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:55

Kentucky Derby 2024: New faces among trainers, jockeys in this year's field

Debra A. Roma
Larry Demeritte, the trainer of West Saratoga, will be the first Black trainer in the Kentucky Derby since 1989.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Can one really, truly know what it might feel like to participate in their first Kentucky Derby? Trainer Larry Demeritte, who has chased the Derby dream all the way from the Bahamas, has been doing his best for many years to be prepared when that call comes to make the walkover from the stable area.

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:40

2024 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Final impressions of this year's field

Barbara D. Livingston
Resilience has given off vibes that he is sitting on a big effort in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather
: Clear
Temperature: 67°
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The final special training session for Kentucky Derby and Oaks participants went off without incident Thursday at Churchill Downs. However, Domestic Product, who came out to train nearly 30 minutes later with the general population, did have to delay his gallop briefly due to a horse who lost its rider and got loose in his vicinity while he stood calmly along the outside rail about 100 yards from the finish line.

Thu, 05/02/2024 - 11:55

Kentucky Derby pits the rich and powerful against a hard-working everyman

Larry Demeritte and West Saratoga at CD April 30 2024
Barbara D. Livingston
West Saratoga, an $11,000 yearling buy trained by Larry Demeritte, has earned the right to take on the big boys in the 150th Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At one end of the stable area there is Sierra Leone, a well-bred, magnificent-looking specimen who cost $2.3 million and hails from some of the most powerful connections in the sport. At the other, there is West Saratoga, a modestly bred, ordinary-looking gray who cost $11,000 and hails from connections with humble beginnings.

Tue, 04/30/2024 - 11:30

Sunday Silence's legacy goes far beyond 1989 Kentucky Derby victory

Sunday Silence/Japan
Shigeki Kikkawa
Sunday Silence stood his stallion career in Japan and is credited with elevating that country’s breeding industry.

In early April 1989, trainer Shug McGaughey, back on the East Coast, had the Santa Anita Derby on his mind. McGaughey trained Easy Goer, champion 2-year-old of 1988, a brilliant winner of his first two starts at age 3. Two weeks after the Santa Anita Derby, Easy Goer would cement his favoritism for the Kentucky Derby by winning the Wood Memorial by three lengths.

McGaughey watched as a colt named Sunday Silence, who hadn’t even faced stakes competition as a 2-year-old, roared to an 11-length win in the Santa Anita Derby.

Sun, 04/28/2024 - 13:35

2024 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Five Derby contenders go through final works

Barbara D. Livingston
Catalytic goes through a final workout before the Kentucky Derby on Sunday at Churchill Downs.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
April 28, 2024

Weather: Clear 
Track: Fast 
Temperature: 68

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sunday offered a picture-perfect morning at Churchill Downs to pretty much close the book on the final major preparations for this year’s Kentucky Derby, with only the two Japanese invaders, Forever Young and T O Password, likely to record an official work in the days ahead.

Sun, 04/28/2024 - 12:48

2024 Kentucky Derby: Track Phantom work caps busy 12 hours for Asmussen

Barbara D. Livingston
Track Phantom, the Grade 3 Lecomte winner, worked five furlongs in 1:00.08 at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was a whirlwind, albeit successful, 12 hours for trainer Steve Asmussen.

On Saturday afternoon, Asmussen was at Oaklawn Park, where he watched Valentine Candy win the Bachelor Stakes, the 3-year-old’s fourth stakes win of the meet. Asmussen jumped in his car for the eight-hour drive to Churchill Downs during which time he was kept apprised of his stable winning four races at Lone Star Park in Texas and then a victory by Zeitlos in the Roxelana Stakes, the latter being the opening-night feature at Churchill Downs.