California trainer Doug O’Neill is sending his leading 3-year-olds across the country for major Triple Crown prep races in coming weeks.
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DRF Past Performances
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The maiden Civil Liberty, third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and fourth in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita as a 2-year-old, is pointing to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4, trainer Doug O’Neill told New York Racing Association publicity.
In his 3-year-old debut last Saturday at Santa Anita, Civil Liberty finished second, beaten a neck by Crude Velocity, in a fastly rated 6 1/2-furlong maiden race. Civil Liberty is by Independence Hall, who won the Nashua and Jerome stakes, both one-turn mile races at Aqueduct.
Long on miles and short on stakes wins, the jet-setting colt Buetane will ramble on to Colonial Downs as the likely favorite in the $500,000 Virginia Derby on Saturday.
Though Buetane regressed in his first route attempt last time out, trainer Bob Baffert believes there’s still a path for the $1.15 million colt to reach the Kentucky Derby.
Buetane
Colt by Tiz the Law – Taboo, by Forestry
Bred in Kentucky by Merriebelle Stable ($150,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling purchase by Tom McCrocklin; $1.15 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring 2-year-old in training purchase by Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Stables)
WHO’S HOT
The Puma, winless in his first two starts, had a very wide trip but was able to prevail in a three-horse duel to the wire over Further Ado and Canaletto in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby. The Puma, now secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby, will have one more race, likely the Blue Grass, where he would face division leader Paladin. The Florida Derby could be possible as well.
Sun, 03/08/2026 - 15:30
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Now that The Puma has confirmed his connections’ belief that he is a Kentucky Derby horse, they will spend the coming week or so figuring out the best route to get him to the May 2 Run for the Roses.
The Puma earned his way into the Kentucky Derby with a three-quarter-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. With 56 qualifying points - he also got six points for his third in the Sam Davis - The Puma, a maiden entering the Tampa Bay Derby, should comfortably make the Churchill Downs starting gate.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A second-time starter whose $2.4 million auction price as a yearling suggested he could be more than just a maiden sprint winner jumped onto the Kentucky Derby trail Saturday at Santa Anita.
Potente ($18.20) upset the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes under Juan Hernandez, giving trainer Bob Baffert his record-extending 10th victory in the 1 1/16-mile race. Potente won by a head over 67-1 longshot Robusta.
So Happy finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third; Secured Freedom finished fourth; Baffert-trained favorite Brant set the pace and tired to fifth.
WHO’S HOT
Commandment and Chief Wallabee threw it down in the Fountain of Youth and put their names atop the list of Derby contenders.
Commandment, who edged Chief Wallabee by a neck in the Fountain of Youth, won for the third straight time and both horses earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures (101-100). Commandment and Chief Wallabee, the latter making just his second career start in the Fountain of Youth, are now co-second choices on David Aragona’s line at 8-1. A rematch is likely in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, and won’t that be fun if it happens?
Wed, 03/04/2026 - 13:01
After some disappointing results in several points-scoring races, trainer Brad Cox started to get concerned about his prospects of participating in Kentucky Derby 152.
“You start worrying, how good’s your group?” said Cox, who watched horses such as Cannoneer, Confessional, Quiet Mischief, Rancho Santa Fe, and My World fail to make an impact in recent Derby preps. “You start getting a little concerned because it is important to me. . . . The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks mean a lot to me and our team.”