Sat, 04/16/2011 - 10:38

Kentucky Derby: Mucho Macho Man has strong work, ships to Churchill Sunday

Barbara D. Livingston
Mucho Macho Man will have two more works before the Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH,Fla. - Risen Star winner and Kentucky Derby hopeful Mucho Macho Man zipped seven furlongs in 1:23.66 on Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park in his final work before his scheduled departure for Churchill Downs on Sunday.

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 16:07

Gulfstream: Pants On Fire sizzles in work

Barbara D. Livingston
Pants On Fire, with Rosie Napravnki riding, wins the Louisiana Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Pants On Fire worked five furlongs in a blistering 58.60 seconds at Palm Meadows shortly after the renovation break on Friday, his first work since upsetting the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 26.

With exercise rider Juan Pizarro aboard, Pants On Fire completed his final quarter in 24 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.80, according to track clocker Bryan Walls.

Fri, 04/15/2011 - 13:15

Keeneland: Jaycito on target for Lexington

Benoit & Associates
Jaycito, with Mike Smith up, wins the Norfolk.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The big-money chances to make the 137th Kentucky Derby thin out considerably once the $1 million Arkansas Derby and $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes have been run Saturday. A handful of lesser preps remain, perhaps most notably at Keeneland next Saturday, April 23, with the $200,000 Coolmore Lexington, a 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race for which Jaycito figures to be favored.

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 17:09

Blue Grass Stakes: Santiva fresh and ready

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Yes, it’s a Grade 1 race with a $750,000 purse. But the inextricable significance of the Blue Grass Stakes is its positioning before the Kentucky Derby, and after the Blue Grass is run Saturday over Polytrack at Keeneland, everyone will surely be asking: What did it mean?

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 16:53

2011 Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not April 14

Barbara D. Livingston
Toby's Corner joined the top 20 of Derby Watch at No. 4 after his Wood Memorial victory.

WHO’S HOT

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 15:32

Kentucky Derby: The Factor brings Bolton back to top of the game

Shigeki Kikkawa
Owner George Bolton has focused on quality rather than quantity.

George Bolton was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he turned it into gold. Through financial intelligence, horse smarts, and a gregarious personality, Bolton has aligned himself with some of the leaders of the racing business, and his boutique operation, favoring quality over quantity, continues to reach new heights.

DERBY PREPS: Watch Blue Grass live | Arkansas Derby workout videos

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 15:12

Arkansas Derby: The Factor likely to face more early pressure

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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Factor has dictated the pace in all three of his dazzling victories. Whether he will be able to do so again Saturday in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby is the central question surrounding the 1 1/8-mile race that closes out the meet at Oaklawn Park.

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:46

Weekend Warrior for April 16

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Thu, 04/14/2011 - 11:57

Calvin Borel: the face of horse racing

Barbara D. Livingston
Calvin Borel has won three Kentucky Derbies on only eight mounts, including last year with Super Saver.

The comments from the 2011 past performances of 3-year-old colt Elite Alex read as follows: “5-wide, middle move,” “6-wide 1/4-pole, modest interest,” and “6-wide 1/4-pole, improved position.”

Thu, 04/14/2011 - 11:43

Uncle Mo found to have infection, still headed to Kentucky Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Uncle Mo had his work pushed up a few hours because of imminent rain in Louisvile. He went five furlongs in 1:01.69.

The connections of Uncle Mo believe they have a reason why their horse did not run up to expectations in last weekend’s $1 million Wood Memorial, and are still hoping to get last year’s 2-year-old champion to the Kentucky Derby on May 7.