Sun, 04/15/2018 - 15:04

Churchill Downs next stop for Magnum Moon

Coady Photography
Magnum Moon was a four-length winner in Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Horsepower.

Robert and Lawana Low have got it – whether it’s the couple’s trucking company or their undefeated Kentucky Derby hopeful Magnum Moon.

Churchill Downs is the next stop for Magnum Moon after he ran his record to 4 for 4 with his Saturday win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The horse was bright and alert Sunday morning at Oaklawn, where he rolled out of the stable area just after 6:30 a.m. to catch a flight to Florida.

Sun, 04/15/2018 - 14:54

Churchill Downs next stop for Magnum Moon

Coady Photography
Magnum Moon was a four-length winner in Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Horsepower.

Robert and Lawana Low have got it – whether it’s the couple’s trucking company or their undefeated Kentucky Derby hopeful Magnum Moon.

Churchill Downs is the next stop for Magnum Moon after he ran his record to 4 for 4 with his Saturday win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The horse was bright and alert Sunday morning at Oaklawn, where he rolled out of the stable area just after 6:30 a.m. to catch a flight to Florida.

Sun, 04/15/2018 - 13:10

Derby field set, with 39 points needed for final berth

Susie Raisher
Firenze Fire likely needs a top-three finish in the Wood to gain a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.

With Saturday's final two Road to the Kentucky Derby races, plus the defection of Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost owing to injury, the potential Derby field is now set, with the current bottom level for making the 20-horse field a record 39 points.

The Kentucky Derby is May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Much can and likely will change over the next two-plus weeks, but at the moment Firenze Fire is 20th on the list with 39 points. Combatant, ranked 21st with 32 points, is on the bubble.

Sun, 04/15/2018 - 07:30

Runaway Ghost injured, will miss Kentucky Derby

Emily Shields
Sunland Park-based Runaway Ghost is tentatively scheduled for an April 17 flight to Kentucky.

Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost will miss the Kentucky Derby after coming out of a Saturday work with a suspected hairline fracture to his right front cannon bone, according to his trainer, Todd Fincher.

Diagnostics were taken when the horse was cooling out after a six-furlong move in 1:13.80 at his base of Sunland Park.

“We can see a small line there,” Fincher said. “Right after the workout he was fine. During the cool-out period he started being off. We took X-rays and he had a little profile on the shin – a faint sign.”

Sat, 04/14/2018 - 21:58

Magnum Moon takes them all the way in Arkansas Derby

Coady Photography
Magnum Moon was a four-length winner in Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Magnum Moon won the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby with authority Saturday at Oaklawn Park to cap an outstanding Kentucky Derby prep season for his trainer, Todd Pletcher. Magnum Moon was a four-length winner over Quip, while it was another neck back in third to Solomini.

The Arkansas Derby was the final points race for the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher trainees that also won major preps this season were Audible, Noble Indy, and Vino Rosso.

Sat, 04/14/2018 - 18:54

My Boy Jack clinches Kentucky Derby berth in Lexington

Coady Photography/Keeneland
My Boy Jack (outside) reeled in Telekinesis for a head victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Lexington.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – My Boy Jack clinched a spot in the 144th Kentucky Derby with a hard-earned victory Saturday in the 37th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington at Keeneland.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux went to his whip repeatedly leaving the far turn to the wire in sustaining momentum aboard My Boy Jack, who reeled in Telekinesis to narrowly capture the 1 1/16-mile Lexington as a 3-2 favorite in a field of 10 3-year-olds.

“He was very, very comfortable in his stride,” said Desormeaux.

Fri, 04/13/2018 - 14:20

Audible impresses in first work since Florida Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Florida Derby winner Audible breezed a half-mile in 48.74 seconds Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Audible, working for the first time since his impressive victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby 13 days earlier, breezed an easy half-mile in 48.74 seconds Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs. Audible was one of two of trainer Todd Pletcher’s four potential Kentucky Derby starters to work at the training center Friday along with Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy.

Thu, 04/12/2018 - 14:40

King: Lightly raced Telekinesis has edge in Lexington Stakes

Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography
Telekinesis, shown winning his maiden Feb. 9, will make his stakes debut in the Lexington Stakes.

The promise Telekinesis displayed this winter at Fair Grounds makes him a leading contender in Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland, and strikes against two of his principal rivals add to his wagering appeal.

Thu, 04/12/2018 - 13:50

Magnum Moon the big gun in contentious Arkansas Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Grade 2 Rebel Stakes winner Magnum Moon, trained by Todd Pletcher, likely will be favored Saturday in the Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Magnum Moon can head into the Kentucky Derby undefeated if he clears one more hurdle Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

The competition will be keen.