Sat, 02/25/2023 - 20:09

Confidence Game ($39) surges to Rebel Stakes victory

Coady Photography
Confidence Game was given a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on Saturday.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Confidence Game brought his ‘A’ game to the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where he swung five-wide into the stretch and rolled home in front to secure 50 points for the Kentucky Derby.  

Confidence Game won by length over Red Route One, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Reincarnate. The runner-up and third place finisher earned a respective 20 and 15 points for the Kentucky Derby, while fourth-place finisher Verifying earned 10 and fifth-place finisher Bourbon Bash gained 5.  

Fri, 02/24/2023 - 14:36

Asmussen, Fincher square off in Mine That Bird Derby and Island Fashion

Coady Photography
How Did He Do That wins the Zia Park Juvenile for Steve Asmussen last November. He took a step forward when blinkers were added for his last race.

How Did He Do That must deal with Southern California shipper Henry Q and an improving Giroovin on Sunday, when he starts as the probable favorite in a competitive renewal of the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park.

The race, which will be run over 1 1/16 miles, is the final local stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Derby on March 26.

Sunday’s card has four stakes designed to produce starters for Sunland Derby Day. The $75,000 Island Fashion, for example, is a prep for the $300,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

Thu, 02/23/2023 - 12:46

Rebel's deep field of 11 will help sort out Derby hopefuls

Benoit Photo
Reincarnate (right) outfought Newgate to win the Sham by a neck. After making his first five starts for Bob Baffert, he will race for Tim Yakteen in the Rebel.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Handicappers have their work cut out for them in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. And so do the horses in the field of 11.

“It’s a deep group of 3-year-olds,” said trainer Brad Cox, who entered Verifying and Giant Mischief. “It’s probably one of the best preps we’ve had this year, top to bottom.”

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who will saddle Bourbon Bash, said much the same about the 1 1/16-mile race that will award Kentucky Derby points to the first five finishers on a scale of 50-20-15-10-5.

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 13:46

2023 Kentucky Derby: McPeek's 3-year-olds coming alive

Coady Photography
Frosted Departure (right) wins the six-furlong Renaissance at Oaklawn Park. He has since finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, giving Kenny McPeek hope he can successfully go a route of ground.

As the calendar turned to February 2022, trainer Kenny McPeek kept answering his phone to find a racing reporter covering the Kentucky Derby Trail on the line.

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 12:20

Asmussen eyes big preps for Disarm, Shopper's Revenge

Barbara D. Livingston
Disarm ran a solid second in his 3-year-old debut and is being pointed for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Disarm and Shopper’s Revenge are both under serious consideration for major Kentucky Derby preps after running in separate allowance races last weekend at Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Disarm is a candidate for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 1 at Oaklawn. The son of Gun Runner launched his 3-year-old season Sunday with a runner-up finish in an entry-level allowance at a mile. The race was his first at two turns and his first since August, when he rolled by 6 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at Saratoga.

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 12:20

EHV-1 at Turf Paradise puts One in Vermillion on hold for San Felipe

Coady Photography
One in Vermillion wins the Riley Allison Derby in his last start.

The three-time stakes winner One in Vermillion will be a longshot in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 4 at Santa Anita, if he is allowed on the property of the Southern California track.

One in Vermillion is part of trainer Esteban Martinez’s 15-horse stable at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. On Sunday, Santa Anita officials announced that no horses from Turf Paradise are allowed on the grounds after a pony horse at that track tested positive for equine herpesvirus.

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 12:16

2023 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Reincarnate

Benoit Photo
Reincarnate will run in trainer Tim Yakteen's name in Saturday's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

Reincarnate

Good Magic – Allanah, by Scat Daddy

Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm ($775,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables)

 

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 12:06

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 22, 2023

Lou Hodges Jr.
Angel of Empire enters the Derby Watch list at 30-1 off this win last weekend in the Grade 2 Risen Star.

WHO’S HOT

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 10:50

Forte will carry Pletcher flag in Fountain of Youth

Barbara D. Livingston
Forte, here with Irad Ortiz Jr. after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, worked five furlongs Saturday.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said early this week that reigning divisional champion Forte most likely will be the only one of his eight nominees he’ll enter Saturday for the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes while also revealing plans for several more of his Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 10:46

Reincarnate beginning to live up to namesake

Benoit Photo
Reincarnate will run in trainer Tim Yakteen's name in Saturday's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

Reincarnate was named after Holy Bull, a Hall of Famer who was the 1994 Horse of the Year. But after losing his first three starts, it seemed Reincarnate was “over-named.” Tom Ryan, racing manager for the colt’s ownership group, was asked if his faith ever wavered.

“Not really, I’ve always had confidence in him,” Ryan said. “He’s a big, stretchy horse that [Bob Baffert] was developing.”

Ryan was not concerned when Baffert started the colt’s career in two turf routes.

“Sometimes you have to use those spots to get where you want to get to,” Ryan said.