Mon, 02/12/2018 - 13:00

Romans juggling preps for Derby prospects

Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
Seven Trumpets, among trainer Dale Romans' Derby prospects, is set to run in the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19 at Oaklawn.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dale Romans thrives on controlled chaos. With a handful of hopefuls for the 2018 Kentucky Derby, Romans is doing his level best to cut through all the clutter and various options and make it back home to Louisville with one shot or more at the roses.

Mon, 02/12/2018 - 10:24

Road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby: Sam F. Davis Stakes analysis

Tom Keyser
Flameaway wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Grade 3, $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs, Feb. 10, 2018
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Flameaway, by Scat Daddy
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Owner: John C. Oxley
Beyer Speed Figure: 92

Sun, 02/11/2018 - 18:58

Field closes as 5-2 favorite in Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Tom Keyser
Flameaway (right) holds off Catholic Boy en route to winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday.

The mutuel field closed as a clear-cut favorite over the nearly inseparable duo of Good Magic and Bolt d’Oro after three days of betting into Pool 2 of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The pool opened Friday at noon Eastern and ran through 6 p.m. Sunday.

Sun, 02/11/2018 - 11:25

Sam F. Davis top finishers Flameaway, Catholic Boy headed separate ways

Tom Keyser
Flameaway (right) holds off Catholic Boy en route to winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Flameaway and Catholic Boy, the top two finishers Saturday in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, appear to be headed in separate directions as their connections start looking farther down the road to the 144th Kentucky Derby.

Sat, 02/10/2018 - 10:42

Field favored at 2-1 in Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Barbara D. Livingston
Catholic Boy will enter the Sam F. Davis Stakes next month off his win in the Remsen.

The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, is the 2-1 favorite after the first of three days of wagering into Pool 2 of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

With $72,268 in the win pool and another $21,560 in exactas, the field is favored over individual interests Bolt d’Oro (5-1), Good Magic (8-1), Audible (11-1), and McKinzie (12-1).

All wagering was suspended on Montauk (No. 15) just prior to the opening of Pool 2 at noon Eastern Friday when the colt’s connections informed track officials he has been declared from Derby consideration.

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:56

For trainer Jonathan Thomas, deliberate steps on road to Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Catholic Boy, already a stakes winner on turf, made his first dirt start in the Grade 2 Remsen, romping by 4 3/4 lengths.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Jonathan Thomas has been preparing for this moment his entire life. Practically born into the racing game in Virginia horse country, Thomas has worked diligently and purposefully for most of his 37 years to get to where he’ll be Saturday – on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Wed, 02/07/2018 - 13:30

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 7, 2018

Barbara D. Livingston
A recent fever will keep Solomini from running in the Feb. 3 Robert Lewis Stakes.

WHO’S HOT

Wed, 02/07/2018 - 13:30

Derby Watch: Good Magic, Bolt d'Oro at head of class

Susie Raisher
Good Magic won the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old male after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall.

Good Magic and Bolt d’Oro were locked in the closest battle of last month’s Eclipse Awards, with a mere 18 votes separating them. Three months since they met for the only time at age 2, their rivalry, and their parallel preparation this spring, makes them among the most compelling of this year’s prospects for the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Wed, 02/07/2018 - 11:46

Seven horses added to Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2

Shigeki Kikkawa
At 8-1, McKinzie has the lowest odds for an individually listed horse in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Seven new names are in the lineup for Pool 2 of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for the customary three-day run.

The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, has been pegged as the 7-2 morning-line favorite in Pool 2 by Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia, with McKinzie the shortest individually listed interest at 8-1. Then come Bolt d’Oro and Good Magic, both at 10-1, and Audible and Mask, both at 12-1.

Wed, 02/07/2018 - 10:56

Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Good Magic

Susie Raisher
Good Magic had his first work since the Breeders' Cup on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

Good Magic

Curlin–Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Farm ($1 million Keeneland September yearling purchase by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds)