Wed, 03/22/2023 - 10:15

Geaux Rocket Ride will turn on afterburners in Santa Anita Derby

Benoit photo

Practical Move worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds last Saturday at Santa Anita.

Geaux Rocket Ride will be among the least experienced entrants in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8, but the two-start colt could inherit the most important role – he is the likely pacesetter.

Runner-up in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, Geaux Rocket Ride is the only true front-runner among six known possibles for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Nominations close March 30 and early possibles include Geaux Rocket Ride, Practical Move, Skinner, I Don’t Get It, Mandarin Hero, and Dazzlemesilver.

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 14:27

Major Dude solid favorite in 12-horse Jeff Ruby Stakes

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

Major Dude, shown winning the Kitten's Joy last month at Gulfstream Park, is 2-1 on the morning line for the Jeff Ruby Stakes.

Morning-line favorite Major Dude drew the rail in a field of 12 on Tuesday for Saturday's Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Ruby, at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta, awards Kentucky Derby points to its top finishers on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale.

Major Dude, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a two-time graded stakes winner on the turf. He won the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy last month at Gulfstream Park in his most recent outing.

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 11:00

Dubai World Cup: UAE Derby among Group 2 undercard races drawn

By Marcus Hersh

Dubai Racing Club

Ah Jeez, one of two Doug O'Neill entrants for the UAE Derby, drew post 4 for the $1 million Kentucky Derby prep.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Group 2 races on the World Cup card – the UAE Derby, the Gold Cup, and the Godolphin Mile – were drawn and post positions assigned Monday.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 13:57

Rice likely to give Arctic Arrogance a shot in Wood Memorial

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Arctic Arrogance was being considered for the seven-furlong Bay Shore, but trainer Linda Rice said his recent training has her leaning toward running him in the Wood Memorial.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Artic Arrogance, runner-up in three consecutive Kentucky Derby points-scoring races, will most likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 8, trainer Linda Rice said Friday.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 13:48

Forte has first work for Florida Derby

By Marty McGee

Barbara D. Livingston

Fountain of Youth winner Forte worked a half-mile Friday at Palm Beach Downs in 50.72.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Forte, the early favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Derby, had his first breeze since winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes when he went an easy half-mile Friday in 50.72 seconds with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard at Palm Beach Downs.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was very happy with how Forte has fared since his 4 1/2-length triumph at Gulfstream Park in the March 4 Fountain of Youth, which marked his first start since the colt clinched a divisional Eclipse Award by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in early November.

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 13:26

Sano works his top 3-year-olds

By Mike Welsch

Coady Photography

Congruent, trained by Antonio Sano, wins the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Antonio Sano sent out Simplification to finish fourth in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, and he is hoping to be back in Louisville on the first Saturday in May again this year. Sano has two potential Derby starters in Congruent and Il Miracolo, both of whom worked five furlongs here Friday in preparation for respective upcoming starts in the Jeff Ruby Stakes March 25 at Turfway and the Florida Derby on April 1 at Gulfstream.

Wed, 03/15/2023 - 16:54

Brave Emperor earns Kentucky Derby points in stakes win at Kempton

By Steve Andersen

Brave Emperor fought off two rivals in the final sixteenth to win for the fifth time in his seventh start in the $72,600 Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park near London on Wednesday.

Wed, 03/15/2023 - 13:15

I Don't Get It will jump from maiden win into the Kentucky Derby mix

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

I Don't Get It wins a maiden race with an 87 Beyer last Saturday at Santa Anita.

By the time I’ll Have Another and Nyquist reached mid-March of their 3-year-old seasons, they were already stakes winners on their way to wins in the Kentucky Derby for owners Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill.

If the same partnership has a runner in this year’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, they will do so with a colt prepared in a different manner.

Wed, 03/15/2023 - 13:00

Blazing Sevens will try to regain form in Wood Memorial

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Blazing Sevens is being pointed to the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct.

Blazing Sevens, who finished eighth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 4, will look to rebound and potentially earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby by running in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 8, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Wednesday.

Brown said Blazing Sevens is tentatively scheduled to van from Payson Park in Florida to New York on Sunday following a workout over the weekend.

Wed, 03/15/2023 - 13:00

Japanese 3-year-old Mandarin Hero plots unusual route to Kentucky Derby

By Nicole Russo

Although Japan offers a series of Kentucky Derby points races, Japanese-bred Triple Crown nominee Mandarin Hero is eyeing the spring classic from a different route, and is coming from Japan for next month’s Santa Anita Derby.

Subscribe to Kentucky Derby