Mon, 03/09/2015 - 11:50

Marcus Hersh's top 3-year-olds at Fair Grounds on March 9

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
War Story is pointing to the Louisiana Derby on March 28 at Fair Grounds.

No changes on the top Fair Grounds-based 3-year-olds from last week, since all has been quiet since the Louisiana Derby Preview card of Feb. 21. War Story, the Risen Star second, was the first horse on these lists who raced Feb. 21 to work back, going an easy half-mile on March 1. International Star is based in Florida, so he’s off this list, so War Story sits atop it. Yockey’s Warrior came out of his meet-best maiden win Feb. 21 in good shape, but he got started too late to make a Fair Grounds stakes, and can’t be considered a Triple Crown horse at this point.

Sun, 03/08/2015 - 19:47

Brad Free's top 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on March 9

Shigeki Kikkawa
The unbeaten Dortmund earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the San Felipe.

DORTMUND remained unbeaten after five starts with a front-running triumph in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, which solidified his role as favorite for the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. PROSPECT PARK ran well to finish second in the San Felipe; he will benefit from the longer distance of the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Those two colts remain on top of the California 3-year-old division.

Sat, 03/07/2015 - 18:27

Dortmund remains perfect in San Felipe

Benoit & Associates
Dortmund is now 5 for 5 after his front-running win under Martin Garcia in the San Felipe.

ARCADIA, Calif .- In his first couple of races, Dortmund wanted to run over horses, he was so headstrong. And, considering how big he is, he might have come close to leaping over them if he wanted. But in his recent races, and through a series of workouts, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Martin Garcia have taught him to relax, even if he’s on the lead, and the results of that labor were on full display Saturday.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 18:00

Khozan, undefeated Pletcher trainee, off Derby trail

Barbara D. Livingston
Khozan wins an allowance race Feb. 22 to improve to 2 for 2.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Friday that the undefeated Khozan is off the Kentucky Derby trail after coming back from a routine gallop at Palm Beach Downs that morning off in his right hind ankle.

"We've sent him to Rood & Riddle. I'm waiting for Dr. [Larry] Bramlage's opinion on Monday," said Pletcher.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 15:40

Turfway: Field taking shape for Spiral Stakes

Coady Photography
Royal Son, winner of the John Battaglia Memorial, is a prospective starter for the Spiral Stakes on March 21.

Roughly two weeks removed from the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 21, the race is beginning to take shape. Among the horses under consideration for the race are Metaboss, Magic is Believing, Conquest Typhoon, Majestico, Imperia, Bluff, Royal Son, and Pepper Roani.

The Great War, the beaten favorite in the John Battaglia Memorial who bled and ran last in that race, is off the Derby trail and will not run. Wesley Ward, who trains The Great War, said he will not have a Spiral starter.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 15:25

Stars coming out for Rebel Day

Shigeki Kikkawa
Last year's champion 3-year-old filly Untapable is expected to make her first start of the season in next Saturday's Azeri.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park will put on one of the most significant programs of its meet next Saturday, with champion Untapable expected to make her 4-year-old debut in the Grade 2, $300,000 Azeri and champions American Pharoah and Take Charge Brandi on schedule to meet in the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes.

The program also will include the Grade 3, $250,000 Razorback Handicap.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 15:11

Dubai Sky re-routed to Spiral

Barbara D. Livingston
Dubai Sky wins the Kitten's Joy Stakes in a photo finish Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The one-week postponement of last Saturday’s Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes due to heavy rain caused trainer Bill Mott to change his plans for Grade 3 winner Dubai Sky, who would have been the favorite had the race gone off as scheduled last weekend.

Thu, 03/05/2015 - 12:45

El Kabeir needs to make amends in Gotham

Michael Amoruso
El Kabeir won the Jerome (above) but then lost the Withers, and he needs to win the Gotham to still be considered a leading Kentucky Derby contender.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – El Kabeir appears to hold the same seasoning and class advantages entering Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct as he did entering last month’s Grade 3 Withers Stakes.

He lost the Withers as the 1-2 favorite.

If El Kabeir is to be considered a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender, he will have to bounce back from that loss when he faces nine mostly new faces in the Gotham, which like the Withers is run at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track.

Thu, 03/05/2015 - 12:35

Prospect Park gets acid test in San Felipe

Shigeki Kikkawa
Prospect Park earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93 - and a shot at the Triple Crown trail - in this Jan. 30 allowance win.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It took several starts for Prospect Park to finally get the hang of what he was supposed to do, but once he figured it out, he came around quickly and now ranks as one of the most intriguing Kentucky Derby prospects in Southern California.

Thu, 03/05/2015 - 11:45

Tampa Derby: Stonestreet holding pair of aces

Barbara D. Livingston
Carpe Diem, trained by Todd Pletcher, has had seven workouts since mid-January in preparation for his 3-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Stonestreet Stables has been a huge player on the American racing scene in the last decade, although not so much in the Kentucky Derby. But if things unfold the right way Saturday in the annual marquee race at Tampa Bay Downs, the powerhouse stable could have two major prospects for the 2015 Derby.