Wed, 12/03/2014 - 12:37

Road to the Derby analysis: Grey Stakes

Michael Burns
The Kentucky shipper International Star rallies to win the Grey Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

Grade 3, $156,300 Grey Stakes, 1 1/16 miles (Polytrack), Woodbine, Oct. 5, 2014

 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

 Winner: International Star

 Trainer: Mike Maker

 Jockey: Rafael Hernandez

 Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey

 Beyer Speed Figure: 66

Tue, 12/02/2014 - 15:24

Road to the Derby analysis: FrontRunner Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
American Pharoah wins the FrontRunner Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

Grade 1, $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, Sept. 27, 2014
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: American Pharoah
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 101

Tue, 12/02/2014 - 15:19

Road to the Derby analysis: Breeders' Futurity

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Carpe Diem, with John Velazquez up, rolls to a 6 1/4-length win in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity, 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland, Oct. 4, 2014
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth

Winner: Carpe Diem
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 93

Tue, 12/02/2014 - 15:03

Road to the Derby analysis: Champagne Stakes

Tom Keyser
Daredevil wins the Grade 1 Champagnes Stakes at Belmont Park by 2 1/2 lengths.

Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes, one mile, Belmont Park, Oct. 4, 2014
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Daredevil
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: Let’s Go Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 107

Tue, 12/02/2014 - 14:51

Road to the Derby analysis: Iroquois Stakes

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Lucky Player (right) wins the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes by a neck over Bold Conquest.

Grade 3, $100,000 Iroquois Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Sept. 6, 2014
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Lucky Player
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Owner: Jerry Durant
Beyer Speed Figure: 82

Sun, 11/30/2014 - 18:29

Field at 3-5 as Derby Futures Pool 1 closes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field has closed as an odds-on favorite in Pool 1 of the 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, with Dortmund the heaviest-backed individual interest.

When closing Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern, the field, the 24th or “all others” option, was 3-5, the lowest price ever in the 17-year history of Churchill Downs offering parimutuel futures. Then came Dortmund (9-1), American Pharoah (12-1), Texas Red (14-1), and Carpe Diem (15-1). The other 19 separately listed horses are 27-1 or higher, with five of them 99-1 and above.

Wed, 11/26/2014 - 12:53

Field at 3-5 for Pool 1 of Derby Future Wager

Shigeki Kikkawa
American Pharoah led throughout Saturday to win the 1 1/16-mile FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Last fall, when Churchill Downs tried a future wager pool in late November for the first time, only one of the 23 separately listed horses eventually made it to the 2014 Kentucky Derby: Ride On Curlin, who ran seventh at 17-1. The “all others” option returned an all-time low of $3.60 for a $2 win bet.

Based on those results, along with a combined handle of just $273,174, it was neither an artistic nor financial success.

But whom did it hurt? And why not try it again?

Tue, 11/25/2014 - 13:07

Field at 3-5 for Pool 1 of Derby Future Wager

Shigeki Kikkawa
American Pharoah led throughout Saturday to win the 1 1/16-mile FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field is an overwhelming morning-line favorite in the first pool of the 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is set to open Friday.

Churchill Downs on Tuesday released the names of the 23 separately listed entrants for Pool 1, which opens Friday at noon Eastern. The field, the 24th or “all others” option, is pegged as the 3-5 favorite, followed by American Pharoah at 12-1, Texas Red at 15-1, and the rest at 20-1 or higher. Todd Pletcher has five of the 23 named, and Bob Baffert has four.

The first pool closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 12:56

Santa Anita Derby early 2015 goal for Ocho Ocho Ocho

Coady Photography
Ocho Ocho Ocho, in the winner's circle with Mike Smith, earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Delta Jackpot.

VINTON, La. – Ocho Ocho Ocho will be put on the Santa Anita Derby trail next year, trainer Jim Cassidy said on Sunday, a day after the horse won his two-turn debut in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. Ocho Ocho Ocho fought for a nose win over Mr. Z to remain undefeated in three starts. He left the Delta Downs stable area Sunday morning to return home to Santa Anita.

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 19:13

Ocho Ocho Ocho narrowly prevails in Delta Jackpot

Coady Photography
Ocho Ocho Ocho, ridden by Mike Smith, earns a nose victory to remain undefeated by taking the Delta Downs Jackpot.

VINTON, La. – Ocho Ocho Ocho remained undefeated in three starts Saturday after he won a photo over Mr. Z in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, and  then withstood both a stewards’ inquiry as well as an objection from the rider of third-place finisher Far Right. With the win, Ocho Ocho Ocho earned $600,000 and 10 preference points for next year’s Kentucky Derby.