LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trainer Mark Casse was looking around for wood to knock on in the Keeneland winner’s circle after La Cara won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes Monday to move on to the Kentucky Oaks. The win came a little more than a week after the Casse-trained Sandman won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby to punch his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.  

“The Arkansas Derby last week, the Ashland this week – pinch me,” Casse said. “I never take anything for granted. I love it, and this has been my life. It’s just great.”  

Coal Battle has wasted no time getting acquainted with Churchill Downs. Some 36 hours after arriving in Louisville, the colt turned in his first local breeze toward the Kentucky Derby, going a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on Tuesday morning beneath the twin spires.

With trainer Lonnie Briley’s assistant, Bethany Taylor, aboard, Coal Battle clicked off an opening quarter-mile in 24 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40, according to Churchill clocker Adam Wallace.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Partially due to the excitement of winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby hours earlier on Journalism, and partially because of late-night viewing of the Japanese Grand Prix, jockey Umberto Rispoli had trouble sleeping on Saturday night.

Getting settled was not easy. There was a lot to review from Saturday’s program at Santa Anita, notably his winning ride on Journalism in the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - On a weekend of mixed results with his 3-year-olds, trainer Bob Baffert may have found his top Kentucky Derby candidate in Rodriguez, the dominant front-running winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Baffert shipped Rodriguez cross-country hoping to find a quieter environment for the 3-year-old who got a bit wound up prior to last month’s San Felipe at Santa Anita, where he finished 11 1/4 lengths behind Journalism.

Journalism, the almost-certain favorite for the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, closed as the 5-1 favorite in the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool just hours before significantly boosting his credentials with a troubled-trip win in the Santa Anita Derby later on Saturday.

Journalism won his fourth consecutive race in the Santa Anita Derby, and paid $4 to win on Saturday. He also closed as the 5-1 favorite in the prior Future Wager pool, and he will likely be a solid favorite in the Kentucky Derby as long as he makes the race.

Journalism, the current favorite on Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch list, will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon his retirement from racing, the farm announced Monday night.

The Coolmore team will also join Journalism’s current ownership partnership – Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, and Robert LaPenta – in his continuing racing career. On Monday, Journalism was entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Florida Derby has produced more winners, 25, than any other Kentucky Derby prep. Trainers Brad Cox and Bill Mott hope that trend continues when their leading Derby candidates Tappan Street and Sovereignty meet again at Churchill Downs on May 3.