Tue, 02/24/2015 - 21:00

Bet This, Not That: Trainers, dirt routes, and the Kentucky Derby

With less than 10 weeks remaining until the first Saturday in May, much of the focus in the racing world has turned to the 3-year-olds. There are 14 races remaining for these horses to earn points in their bid to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, and with over 400 horses nominated for the Triple Crown, the competition for these points will be fierce.

Tue, 02/24/2015 - 14:45

American Pharoah, Dortmund Kentucky Derby Future Wager favorites

Barbara D. Livingston
Dortmund is co-favored among individual interest in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at 8-1.

American Pharoah and Dortmund are the top morning-line choices behind the mutuel field in Pool 3 of the 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for a three-day run.

The field, the 24th or “all others” entry, closed as the 3-5 favorite in Pool 1, which ran Nov. 28-30, and was the 5-2 choice in Pool 2 (Feb. 6-8).

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 22:20

Mike Welsch's top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream on Feb. 23

Barbara D. Livingston
Itsaknockout was elevated to first by the stewards in the Fountain of Youth.

Top 3-year-old colts and geldings at Gulfstream Park

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 15:27

Mary Rampellini's top 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23

Coady Photography
Mike Smith brings Far Right up the rail to win his second straight stakes in the Southwest.

Far Right established himself as the clear leader of the 3-year-old contingent at Oaklawn Park on Sunday with his determined win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes. It was his second consecutive stakes victory in Oaklawn’s series leading up to the Arkansas Derby, as Far Right won the track’s $150,000 Smarty Jones in January. 

Top 3-year-old males

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 14:59

Road to the Derby analysis: Southwest Stakes

Coady Photography
Mike Smith brings Far Right up the rail to win his second straight stakes in the Southwest.

Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn, Feb. 22
(10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Far Right
Trainer: Ron Moquett
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owners: Robert LaPenta and Harry Rosenblum
Beyer Speed Figure: 91

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 14:50

Far Right and Mr. Z headed their separate ways

Coady Photography
Far Right, winning the Southwest Stakes on Sunday, will probably await the April 11 Arkansas Derby for his next start.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Far Right has now won both of his Oaklawn Park matchups with Mr. Z – Sunday’s Southwest Stakes and last month’s Smarty Jones Stakes. But the rivalry, which has highlighted the local 3-year-old series, is unlikely to be renewed in next month’s Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes here.

Far Right and Mr. Z have different agendas coming out of the Southwest, and as a result, the 1 1/16-mile Rebel will have a new look when it is run March 14.

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 14:31

Far From Over, El Kabeir on course for rematch

Debra A. Roma
Far From Over defeats El Kabeir in the Withers on Feb. 7. They are both pointing for the March 7 Gotham.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Far From Over and El Kabeir, the top two finishers in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on Feb. 7, both returned to the work tab Sunday as they train toward a possible rematch in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 7.

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 14:06

Marcus Hersh's top 3-year-olds at Fair Grounds on Feb. 23

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
War Story will likely make his next start in the Southwest Stakes.

I'm a Chatterbox and International Star won the weekend's 3-year-old stakes here, just like they did last month in the Silverbulletday and Lecomte. But unlike last month, I’m a Chatterbox went a little slower than International Star. International Star is based in Florida, so he’s off this list, and War Story, second in the Lecomte and the Risen Star, now sits atop it. Yockey’s Warrior was the sharpest maiden winner of the meet, but he started too late to make a stakes race here this meet.

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 12:40

Weekend winners to stay on same track

Barbara D. Livingston
Khozan will head to the Florida Derby off this allowance victory at Gulfstream on Sunday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The winners of the major Kentucky Derby preps run over the weekend all came out of their races well and will continue to race at the same track, though in the case of Southwest Stakes winner Far Right, he’ll skip the Rebel on March 14, the next prep at Oaklawn Park, and await the Arkansas Derby on April 11.

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 10:53

David Grening's top 3-year-olds at Aqueduct on Feb. 23

SV Photography
Ocean Knight wins the Sam F. Davis on Jan. 31 at Tampa Bay Downs.

EL KABEIR continues to toughen out this harsh New York winter, squeezing in a workout Sunday at Belmont Park that keeps him on track for the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct on March 7. His Withers conqueror, FAR FROM OVER, meanwhile, worked at Palm Beach Downs Sunday and still has the Gotham as an option. OCEAN KNIGHT, who also worked over the weekend, remains likely for the Gotham. CONDO COMMANDO kicked off her 3-year-old campaign with a solid effort winning the Busher and is targeting the Gazelle on April 4.