Sun, 03/31/2013 - 16:03

Santa Anita Derby: Power Broker turns in snappy four-furlong workout

ARCADIA, Calif. - Power Broker, unraced since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday, his final major workout before a start in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

“I liked what I saw,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He didn’t get tired.”

Owned by Gary and Mary West, Power Broker has 1 win in 5 starts and earnings of $242,600. A colt by Pulpit, Power Broker’s lone victory came in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes over 1 1/16 miles here last September.

Sun, 03/31/2013 - 14:41

Florida Derby winner Orb will head to Kentucky Derby in peak form

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

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -   Trainer Shug McGaughey was still basking in the glow of his first Florida Derby victory the morning after Orb rallied to a convincing two-length victory over Itsmyluckyday under jockey John Velazquez in the Grade 1 stakes  that highlighted an outstanding day of racing Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Sun, 03/31/2013 - 14:12

Louisiana Derby winner Revolutionary will stop at farm before settling in at Churchill Downs

Hodges Photography/ Lynn Roberts
Revolutionary, ridden by Javier Castellano (white cap), and Mylute both were awarded a Beyer Speed Figure of 93 for their performance in the Louisiana Derby.

Revolutionary, winner of the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, will ship to WinStar Farm in Kentucky along with New Orleans Handicap winner Graydar for a few days before moving on to Churchill Downs later in the week. Both horses are owned, in part, by WinStar.

Revolutionary was awarded a Beyer Speed Figure of 93 for his neck win over Mylute in the Louisiana Derby.

Sun, 03/31/2013 - 13:45

Wood Memorial: Verrazano delivers bullet five furlongs before leaving Florida for Aqueduct

Barbara D. Livingston
Arkansas Derby prospect Overanalyze (right), with John Velazquez up, works five furlongs in company with Charming Kitten on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Less than 13 hours after winning Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park aboard Orb, jockey John Velazquez was at the Palm Meadows training center Sunday morning to guide the undefeated 3-year-old Verrazano through his final workout leading up to next Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Sat, 03/30/2013 - 19:05

Louisiana Derby: Revolutionary's win marks him serious Kentucky Derby threat

Lou Hodges Jr.
Revolutionary holds off a determined Mylute to win the Louisiana Derby.

NEW ORLEANS – Whether he comes inside and knifes through traffic, or takes the scenic route and goes around everyone, Revolutionary is moving forward like a horse to be reckoned with in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

Revolutionary ($6.80) took a significant step forward on Saturday, when he made a powerful, wide move on the final turn, then held off a pesky Mylute to win the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with odds and video]

Sat, 03/30/2013 - 19:01

Florida Derby: Orb pulls away from Itsmyluckyday

Barbara D. Livingston
Orb and jockey John Velazquez are all alone at the finish of the Florida Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -   Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey was concerned when the meet began that the speed-favoring Gulfstream Park surface might not favor a late-running horse like Orb. But the ever-improving Orb put those fears to rest not once, not twice, but three times during the session, culminating a perfect winter in south Florida by rallying to a courageous 2 3/4-length victory over the 8-5 favorite Itsmyluckyday in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby.

Orb also gave jockey John Velazquez his fifth win on the card, four of those victories coming in graded stakes. 

Sat, 03/30/2013 - 12:16

Santa Anita Derby comeback spot for Power Broker

Barbara D. Livingston
Power Broker, here training in early March, will make his first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Power Broker has been something of a forgotten horse in recent months, even if he was a Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old last September.

He can make up for lost time in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with odds and video]

Fri, 03/29/2013 - 16:01

Santa Anita Derby: Goldencents learning to pace himself

Shigeki Kikkawa
Goldencents is being pointed to the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 9 at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the three weeks since Goldencents finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 9, trainer Doug O’Neill has focused on teaching the two-time stakes winner to reserve his speed.

Fri, 03/29/2013 - 13:31

Countdown to the Crown: Week 13 - March 29, 2013

Barbara D. Livingston
Fountain of Youth winner Orb looks like the right fit for the job in the Florida Derby with his allowance-to-stakes class rise at the Gulfstream meet.

The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

Straight from the gate

Thu, 03/28/2013 - 16:32

Louisiana Derby: With full field, wide-open race is a bettor's delight

Barbara D. Livingston
Revolutionary (right) overcame adversity to win the Withers Stakes on Feb. 2 but faces tougher competition in Saturday's Louisiana Derby.

NEW ORLEANS – Strange, this 100th running of the Louisiana Derby. The prep, the Risen Star, was won by the longshot Ive Struck a Nerve, who subsequently was injured and is off the Kentucky Derby trail. And since the Risen Star field found the first eight finishers separated by less than four lengths, five of them are signed up for another go-round Saturday. Why not?