Thu, 01/26/2023 - 10:56

Southwest contenders come from all over

Barbara D. Livingston
John Velazquez rides Arabian Knight like he's the best horse in Saturday's first race at Keeneland. And, he was.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Every horse in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Saturday at Oaklawn Park has something to prove, whether a leading Kentucky Derby points earner in Jace’s Road, a $2.3 million purchase in Arabian Knight, an undefeated stakes winner in Corona Bolt, a blueblood in Red Route One, or a local stakes winner in Frosted Departure.

Tue, 01/24/2023 - 15:21

Verifying between Risen Star and Rebel for next start

Barbara D. Livingston
Verifying goes from this Aug. 27 debut win at Saratoga to the Champagne Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Verifying, a half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou who is tied atop the Beyer Speed Figure standings for 3-year-olds, will likely make his next start in a Kentucky Derby points race at Oaklawn Park or Fair Grounds, according to trainer Brad Cox.  

Verifying was a first-level allowance winner at a mile Jan. 14 at Oaklawn and the Beyer of 97 that he earned ranks first in his division. A day later, Hejazi won a maiden sprint at Santa Anita with the same number. Verifying has since returned to his base at Fair Grounds, said Cox. 

Mon, 01/23/2023 - 15:42

Road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Lecomte Stakes analysis

Jamie Newell/Hodges Photography
Instant Coffee pasando por fuera a ganar el Lecomte Stakes

Grade 3, $194,500 Lecomte Stakes, Fair Grounds, Jan. 21, 2023, (20 qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, and 2 for fifth)

Winner: Instant Coffee, by Bolt d’Oro
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Owner: Gold Square
Distance / time: 1 1/16 miles / 1:45.12
Win margin: 2 1/2 lengths
Beyer: 92

Mon, 01/23/2023 - 08:24

Field 2-1 favorite in Pool 3 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Barbara Livingston
Forte will make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gullfstream Park.

Pool 3 in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday evening with the mutuel field as the 2-1 favorite among 40 wagering options.

The field, or “all-other” male runners, was a clear-cut choice over individual entries Forte (7-1), Instant Coffee (15-1), Loggins (16-1), and Extra Anejo (18-1) after the customary three-day window of betting. A “3-year-old filly” option was 33-1.

Combined handle (win and exacta) in Pool 3 was $312,906. The lowest $2 exacta combination was the field over Forte (40-13), worth $39.28.

Sun, 01/22/2023 - 17:43

Practical Move eyeing Rebel, San Felipe for comeback race

Benoit photo
Practical Move returned $23.20 in winning the Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Practical Move, winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17, is under consideration for one of two Grade 2 stakes at 1 1/16 miles later this winter, trainer Tim Yakteen said Sunday.

Races such as the $1 million Rebel Stakes on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park and the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 4 at Santa Anita are possibilities for Practical Move’s 3-year-old debut, Yakteen said.

“We have a lot of options,” he said.

Tue, 01/17/2023 - 11:28

Road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Sham Stakes analysis

Benoit Photo
Reincarnate mantiene a raya a Newgate en el Sham Stakes G3

Grade 3, $98,500 Sham Stakes, Santa Anita, Jan. 8, 2023
(10 qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, 1 for fifth)

Winner: Reincarnate, by Good Magic
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet
Beyer Speed Figure: 95
Distance - time: 1 mile - 1:35.87
Win margin: Neck

Sun, 01/15/2023 - 11:06

Road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Smarty Jones Stakes analysis

Coady Photography
Victory Formation showed his abilities were not limited to sprints with a victory in the one-mile Smarty Jones on Jan. 1 at Oaklawn Park. He stretches out to nine furlongs in the Risen Star.

$250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 1, 2023 (10 qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth) 

Winner: Victory Formation, by Tapwrit
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Owner: Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations
Beyer: 91
Distance - time: 1 mile – 1:38.14
Win margin: 3 lengths

Fri, 01/13/2023 - 19:57

Road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Breeders' Cup Juvenile analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Forte desplaza a Cave Rock para ganar la Breeders' Cup Juvenile G1

Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Keeneland, Nov. 4, 2022 (30 qualifying points for first, 12 for second, 9 for third, 6 for fourth, and 3 for fifth) 

Winner: Forte, by Violence
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Beyer: 100 
Distance – time: 1 1/16 miles – 1:43.06
Win margin: 1 1/2 lengths

Wed, 01/11/2023 - 15:36

Kentucky Derby: Woodford Reserve extends sponsorship through 2027

Barbara D. Livingston
Churchill Downs was able to hold the 2022 Kentucky Derby without attendance restrictions for the first time since 2019.

Woodford Reserve, the bourbon brand sold by Brown-Forman, has reached an agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. to extend its presenting sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby through 2027, the companies announced on Wednesday.

Fri, 01/06/2023 - 12:40

Despite edge in numbers, Baffert no lock to win Sham Stakes

Benoit Photo
Speed Boat Beach, trained by Bob Baffert, returns to dirt in the Sham after winning two stakes on turf.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A pair of party crashers face a tough task at Santa Anita on Sunday when they try to wrest the Grade 3 Sham Stakes from a stable that practically owns the race for 3-year-olds.

At a mile on dirt, the Sham presents multiple challenges for romping maiden sprint winner Spun Intended and graded turf winner Packs a Wahlop. One is unproven at two turns, the other unproven on dirt, both might be outclassed, and they definitely are outnumbered.