Mon, 04/15/2013 - 15:39

Kentucky Derby spots, points remain up for grabs

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Java’s War (4) racks up 100 Kentucky Derby eligibility points winning Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby is turning into the haves and the have little.

Mon, 04/15/2013 - 15:12

Keeneland: Rydilluc headed back to grass

Coady Photography/Keeneland
Rydilluc had the Blue Grass lead past the quarter pole, but wound up finishing fourth to Java’s War.

[bc_video_id:289292:]LEXINGTON, Ky. – For a fleeting moment, Gary Contessa had visions of roses. But then Rydilluc began tiring under Edgar Prado in the final furlong of the Blue Grass Stakes, and soon it was back to reality.

That reality is turf, not dirt, as Rydilluc is out of the Kentucky Derby picture and likely will run next in the May 25 Arlington Classic or the new Penn Mile on June 1 at Penn National, Contessa said Monday.

Mon, 04/15/2013 - 11:10

Kentucky Derby: Borel on Revolutionary, Smith to ride Palace Malice

Barbara D. Livingston
Palace Malice was a $200,000 purchase last April at the Keeneland 2-year-olds in training sale.

Calvin Borel will ride Revolutionary and Mike Smith has picked up the mount on Palace Malice in the Kentucky Derby on May 4, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday.

Revolutionary won the Louisiana Derby with Javier Castellano, who since has chosen to ride Normandy Invasion in the Derby.

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 18:05

Kentucky Derby: Vyjack's trip to Churchill Downs delayed while Rodriguez applies for license

Tom Keyser
Vyjack, undefeated in four starts, will aim for a third consecutive graded-stakes win in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial on April 6.

Vyjack, the multiple graded stakes winning 3-year-old and Kentucky Derby candidate, has been based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland for several days, in part to take advantage of that facility’s hyperbaric chamber to aid with the gelding’s respiratory issues.

The original plan called for Vyjack to return to New York in time to catch a Sunday flight to Kentucky along with Wood Memorial 1-2 finishers Verrazano and Normandy Invasion.

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 15:21

Kentucky Derby: Arkansas Derby winner Overanalyze wastes no time getting to Churchill Downs

Tom Keyser
Overanalyze received an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -  A day after winning the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, Overanalyze was settled in at Churchill Downs to begin final preparations for next month’s Kentucky Derby. Rafael Bejarano, who rode the horse for the first time in the Arkansas Derby, will have the mount, trainer Todd Pletcher said on Sunday.

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 12:30

Overanalyze second Grade 1 winner for broodmare Unacloud

Tom Keyser
Overanalyze wins the Arkansas Derby under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

A driving victory by Overanalyze in the Arkansas Derby further bolstered the broodmare resume of his dam, Unacloud, who became a multiple Grade 1 producer with the win.

A 16-year-old mare by Unaccounted For, Unacloud has produced six winners from eight foals to race. She is out of the winning Two Punch mare Cloud’s Ambre, and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Bear’s Lightning and Illusoria, who is also a stakes producer.

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 12:00

Kentucky Derby: Orb emerges from fog during sharp workout

Barbara D. Livingston
Orb earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for his Florida Derby victory.

INDIANTOWN GAP, Fla. -  The fog that still shrouded much of the racetrack shortly after sunrise Sunday morning at Payson Park proved to be more of an issue for onlookers than it did for Florida Derby winner Orb, who breezed an easy half-mile in the first of his three scheduled workouts prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 04/14/2013 - 10:32

Kentucky Derby: Blue Grass, Arkansas Derby produce two starters apiece for Pletcher, McPeek

Coady Photography
Blue Grass winner Java's War (left), who earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure, and runner-up Palace Malice (right) will both move on to the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ken McPeek and Todd Pletcher swapped exactas, so to speak, in the two big Kentucky Derby prep races Saturday.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Both watched amid a bright and fading spring sun at Keeneland when Java’s War, trained by McPeek, overtook Palace Malice, trained by Pletcher, in the desperate final yards of the Blue Grass Stakes.

Sat, 04/13/2013 - 19:09

Arkansas Derby: Overanalyze pulls away for Pletcher

Tom Keyser
Overanalyze wins the Arkansas Derby under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Overanalyze gave his trainer, Todd Pletcher, a third major contender for next month’s Kentucky Derby after he cruised to a 4 1/4-length win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday. Pletcher also trains Verrazano, the undefeated winner of the Wood Memorial, and Revolutionary, the winner of the Louisiana Derby.

Sat, 04/13/2013 - 18:01

Blue Grass: Java's War overcomes poor start to run down Palace Malice

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Java's War nails Palace Malice (inside) on the wire of the Blue Grass Stakes.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Java’s War overcame an awful start before gathering himself and streaking down the stretch for a dramatic neck victory Saturday in the 89th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.