Sat, 04/01/2023 - 16:39

England: Bold Act gains 30 Kentucky Derby points with Cardinal Condition victory

Bold Act won his fourth consecutive race and first start of 2023 in the $123,800 Cardinal Condition Stakes at Chelmsford City Racecourse near London, the final race in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.

Bold Act, a well-regarded colt from the powerful Godolphin stable, won the Cardinal Stakes at a mile on a synthetic track by a half-length over Brave Emperor, who ranks first in the European qualifying standings for the Kentucky Derby.

Thu, 03/30/2023 - 15:35

Kimura picks up mount on Japan shipper Mandarin Hero in Santa Anita Derby

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

San Felipe winner Practical Move returns in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

Kazushi Kimura, the leading rider at Woodbine the last two years who has spent recent months at Santa Anita, has been booked to ride the Japanese import Mandarin Hero in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

Thu, 03/30/2023 - 14:56

Brave Emperor in for a fight as he tries to qualify for Kentucky Derby at Chelmsford City

By Steve Andersen

Brave Emperor currently ranks in a tie for the lead in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.

To clinch the single berth available from the series, Brave Emperor will need the best race of his already accomplished career when he starts in Saturday’s $123,800 Cardinal Condition Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track at Chelmsford City Racecourse near London.

Thu, 03/30/2023 - 14:20

Arkansas Derby: Competitive group squares off for big purse, points

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Rocket Can comes into the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby off a second-place finish behind Forte in the Fountain of Youth.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A final push for Kentucky Derby qualifying points has brought horses from California, Florida, and Louisiana to Oaklawn Park on Saturday for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.

Daily Racing Form Derby Watch members Reincarnate, in from Santa Anita, Rocket Can, a regular at Gulfstream Park, Angel of Empire, who made his last start at Fair Grounds, and Red Route One, the leader of the local division, will be in the thick of the hunt for points.

Thu, 03/30/2023 - 13:25

Florida Derby: Despite post, Forte expectations through the roof

By Mike Welsch

Lauren King

Forte gallops to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Fountain of Youth. He makes his final start prior to the Kentucky Derby in Saturday's Florida Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Todd Pletcher has won the Grade 1 Florida Derby a record six times, including five of the last nine renewals. But none of those promising youngsters, even eventual Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming in 2017, came into the race with expectations for victory as high as Forte, who will go postward an overwhelming favorite despite facing 11 rivals and breaking from a disadvantageous outside post.

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 14:00

Brave Emperor following less-traveled road to Kentucky Derby

By Steve Andersen

There may be a runner in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6 who has never raced beyond a mile or appeared in a group or graded stakes.

Brave Emperor, a winner of 5 of 7 starts in Britain and France, is the current co-leader in the European qualifying series that offers one invitation to the runner with the most points.

Brave Emperor is one of two Triple Crown nominees in Saturday’s $123,000 Cardinal Condition Stakes at a mile on the synthetic surface at Chelmsford City Racecourse northeast of London, the final race in the European qualifying series.

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 13:55

Kentucky Derby: Arkansas Derby hopeful Two Eagles River comes from small world

By Mary Rampellini

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kavod took co-owner Michael Robinson on a Grade 1 ride last April when he ran in the Arkansas Derby.

The horse, who finished fifth, was one of the first runners owned by the 46-year-old family practitioner from Sayre, Okla.

Robinson will again see action in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, as the co-owner of Two Eagles River.

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 13:45

Kentucky Derby: Derma Sotogake's UAE Derby time compares favorably

By Brad Free

Dubai Racing Club

Derma Sotogake’s time in the UAE Derby compared favorably with that of the Dubai World Cup.

How fast did Derma Sotogake run Saturday when he dazzled in the UAE Derby? The colt’s time was the second-fastest UAE Derby since the race moved to Meydan and lengthened to 1 3/16 miles in 2010.

But compared to the Dubai World Cup time, Derma Sotogake probably ran “faster” than UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn, who won in a record 1:55.19 over a quick Meydan surface in 2018. That year, Thunder Snow won the 1 1/4-mile Dubai World Cup in 2:01.38, fastest at Meydan.

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 12:35

Rocket Can aims to make Fletcher's Arkansas Derby dreams come true

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Rocket Can won the Grade 3 Holy Bull and finished second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in his last two starts.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The first Saturday in April is Frank Fletcher’s first Saturday in May.

The owner of Rocket Can is seeking to win the Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. It’s the dream he’s been chasing since he got into racing in 1989.

“This is why I race,” Fletcher said.

“I was born in Arkansas, and I’ve lived here all my life. Oaklawn is my very favorite track and what makes racing fun is for all the people you know joining you in the celebration. We’ve got friends coming from one end of Arkansas to the other for this race.”

Wed, 03/29/2023 - 11:25

Kentucky Derby 2023: Points bar set high this year

By David Grening

Lou Hodges Jr.

Angel of Empire, slotted for Saturday's Arkansas Derby, is one of only four horses in the top 19 on the Kentucky Derby points list in action this weekend.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The phrase “one shining moment” will be heard frequently this weekend, especially here in South Florida, where two schools qualified for the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament to be held in Houston.

Horsemen, both in South Florida and approximately 1,200 miles away in Arkansas, will be hoping many of their heretofore unheralded 3-year-olds – Cinderellas if you will – can have one shining moment Saturday in either the Florida Derby or Arkansas Derby in hopes of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby on May 6.

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