Wed, 05/03/2023 - 11:07

American Pharoah, Justify have first classic runners

Verifying will be Justify's first Kentucky Derby starter on Saturday.
Barbara Livingston
Verifying will be Justify's first Kentucky Derby starter on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify, who share a barn at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, will have their respective first runners in American classics this week at Churchill Downs.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 14:30

Kentucky Derby: Beyer Figures say Two Phil's shouldn't be overlooked

Two Phil's earned a 101 Beyer Figure for winning the Jack Ruby at Turfway Park.
Coady Photography
Two Phil's earned a 101 Beyer Figure for winning the Jack Ruby at Turfway Park.

Kentucky Derby bettors have waited two decades for another horse like War Emblem, the 2002 Derby winner whose odds were out of whack compared to his last-start speed figure.

War Emblem earned a gaudy 112 Beyer the start before the Kentucky Derby, seven points higher than any rival’s last start. However, War Emblem earned the number defeating lesser company in a lesser race – the Illinois Derby at Sportsman’s Park. Few horseplayers trusted him to reproduce the number against better company at Churchill Downs.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 13:40

Kentucky Derby: Forte brings Repole full circle

Repole,Mike.Viola,Vinnie background at GP April 1 2023
Barbara Livingston
Partners Mike Repole and Vine Viola (background) watch Forte's Florida Derby. They are hoping for a less nerve-racking win in the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On the eve of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, a downcast Mike Repole joined trainer Todd Pletcher on a podium in the press room at Churchill Downs to announce the scratch of Uncle Mo, the 2-year-old champion of 2010 and second choice on the morning line.

The signs were there all week that Uncle Mo, dealing with what would ultimately be diagnosed as a liver disorder, wouldn’t make the race, though his connections entered hoping for a miracle that didn’t come.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 12:56

Kentucky Derby: Derma Sotogake works solo this time

Leading Japanese representative Derma Sotogake works a half-mile in 49.87 on Tuesday at Churchill Downs for Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Barbara Livingston
Leading Japanese representative Derma Sotogake works a half-mile in 49.87 on Tuesday at Churchill Downs for Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Derma Sotogake, the UAE Derby winner, and Sun Thunder, the Risen Star Stakes runner-up, put in workouts Tuesday morning as major preparations for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs begin to wind down.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 12:30

2023 Kentucky Derby: Pletcher trio strong but race could go many ways

Forte trains at CD April 26 2023
Barbara Livingston
Forte brings a five-race win streak into the Kentucky Derby that includes a hard-fought victory over Mage in the Florida Derby on April 1.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Todd Pletcher has been bringing horses to the Kentucky Derby for more than two decades. His 62 starters are a record. His 22 Kentucky Derby appearances are second only to his former boss and mentor D. Wayne Lukas (29). He has won the race twice.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 12:23

Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Derma Sotogake, Sun Thunder put in half-mile breezes

Kentucky Derby entrant Sun Thunder works a half-mile in 47.76 on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.
Barbara Livingston
Kentucky Derby entrant Sun Thunder works a half-mile in 47.76 on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Weather: Clear

Temperature: 50

Track: Fast 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - ­The post positions have been drawn but the prep work is not quite over for the 14 fillies set to contest Friday’s Kentucky Oaks and the 20 colts targeting the Kentucky Derby 24 hours later.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 09:10

Kentucky Derby: First-time participants have world of experience

Jareth Loveberry at CD May 1 2023
Barbara Livingston
Jareth Loveberry locked up his first Kentucky Derby mount by guiding Two Phil's to victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks for trainer Larry Rivelli, who will also be making his first Derby appearance.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The four first-time trainers with a horse expected to start in this year's Kentucky Derby have sent out well over 20,000 starters combined in races around the globe, according to Equineline statistics. The three jockeys set to ride their first Derby have taken a leg up more than 21,000 times.

But despite all their experiences, there’s nothing quite like this.

"This is it," said trainer Larry Rivelli, who will saddle Two Phil's as his first Kentucky Derby starter. "This is what we do this for. It's a dream come true."

Mon, 05/01/2023 - 14:38

2023 Kentucky Derby: Forte favored, will start from post 15

Forte works at CD April 29 2023
Barbara Livingston
Todd Pletcher has the two early favorites for the Derby in Forte (above) and Tapit Trice, who will break from post 5. Daily Racing Form's David Aragona has made Forte 7-2 and Tapit Trice 6-1.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The suspense ended early for Forte and his trainer Todd Pletcher.

Forte was the first name called in Monday’s post-position draw, and he was assigned stall 15 for Saturday’s $3 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs where he was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite on Churchill Downs’ line-maker Mike Battaglia’s morning-line. Daily Racing Form’s David Aragona made Forte the 7-2 morning-line favorite.

Mon, 05/01/2023 - 14:25

Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Disarm impresses in easy half-mile drill

Disarm, trained by Steve Asmussen, works a half-mile in 49.24 seconds early Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
Deb Roma
Disarm, trained by Steve Asmussen, works a half-mile in 49.24 seconds early Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs

Monday, May 1

Weather: Showery

Temperature: 47°

Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Light rain was falling and temperatures were unseasonably cold once again when the racetrack opened for business at 5:15 a.m. Monday at Churchill Downs, with the trainers of this year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks starters now in the process of putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the two big events now just days away.

Mon, 05/01/2023 - 14:10

In wake of tragedies, jockey mental health becomes a focus

Coady Photography
Jockey Alex Canchari took his own life on March 1. Family members said afterward that the 29-year-old rider struggled with the demands the industry places on jockeys.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 19.1 percent of U.S. adults had any anxiety disorder in the past year, while 8.4 percent had at least one major depressive episode. Those figures would represent approximately 3.8 people and 1.7 people, respectively, out of a group of 20.