Sun, 03/06/2022 - 15:44

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: San Felipe Stakes Analysis

Emily Shields
Forbidden Kingdom earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in the San Felipe Stakes.

Grade 2, $401,000 San Felipe Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, March 5, 2022
(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 0 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Forbidden Kingdom, by American Pharoah
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Owner: My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm
Beyer Speed Figure: 98

Sat, 03/05/2022 - 19:22

Morello stays unbeaten with Gotham Stakes victory

Barbara D. Livingston
Morello extiende su invicto en el Gotham S. G3

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Morello remained undefeated and helped further fuel the Kentucky Derby dreams of his connections with an authoritative 4 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

After getting bumped at the start due to pressure to his inside, Morello, under Jose Lezcano, stalked the pacesetting Dean’s List before taking over from that one just outside the eighth pole. In the final furlong, Morello widened his advantage while under a hand ride from Lezcano.

Sat, 03/05/2022 - 18:24

Simplification wins spill-marred Fountain of Youth

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Simplification wins the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - History repeated itself Saturday at Gulfstream Park for trainer Antonio Sano.

Fri, 03/04/2022 - 10:20

Cox sorting out next options for two possible Kentucky Derby candidates

Coady Photography
Zozos wins a Feb. 11 allowance at Oaklawn with an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

Brad Cox is contemplating pulling the old stakes switcheroo with a couple 3-year-olds.

The Cox-trained Cyberknife took a sizeable step forward winning a first-level dirt-route allowance race Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. Meanwhile, Zozos, who won his sprint debut in January at Fair Grounds, crushed first-level allowance rivals in a two-turn dirt race Feb. 11 at Oaklawn, winning off by 10 1/4 lengths.

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 14:00

Tiz the Bomb tries Tapeta in Battaglia

Barbara D. Livingston
Tiz the Bomb finished his 2-year-old season strong but was a badly beaten seventh in the Holy Bull to begin his 2022 campaign.

The talented Tiz the Bomb has a chance to regroup in the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Saturday night at Turfway Park, a Kentucky Derby points race on the synthetic Tapeta that could be a first step in a number of directions.

“We may shift back to grass,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “Hopefully, this is just one step of many.”

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 13:46

Gotham's one-turn mile ideal for Morello, Rockefeller

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Rockefeller is 2 for 2 in one-turn races and 0 for 2 in two-turn starts. His wins include the one-mile Nashua in November (above).

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While it is unlikely Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct produces a serious Kentucky Derby contender, there are several in here who could be factors in the 3-year-old division at shorter distances.

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 12:56

Couple of changes might put Simplification over the top in Fountain of Youth

Barbara D. Livingston
Holy Bull runner-up Simplification is a major player in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. Thirteen 3-year-olds, one of whom is on the also-eligible list, were entered Monday for the 1 1/16-mile race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Having undergone a change in running style and a change in rider since walking into the starting gate for the Grade 3 Holy Bull four weeks earlier, Simplification will try to prove a little change has done him a lot of good Saturday at Gulfstream in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, the major local prep for the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2. Simplification is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a full field of 12 3-year-olds set to vie for a $400,000 purse and 85 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 09:06

Mandella giving Forbidden Kingdom opportunity to succeed in San Felipe

Benoit Photo
Forbidden Kingdom, winner of the seven-furlong San Vicente, stretches out around two turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Richard Mandella has never been one to try and put a square peg into a round hole. Mandella, a Hall of Fame trainer, wasn’t going to try Forbidden Kingdom around two turns until he was good and ready. It took four starts for Forbidden Kingdom to get that chance, but it finally arrives Saturday at Santa Anita and will determine his path ahead.

Wed, 03/02/2022 - 14:56

Blue Lion Thoroughbreds has two runners in Gotham Stakes

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Morello is 2 for 2 for Blue Lion Thoroughbreds and partners, including a five-length score in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – David Lyon says he’s a realist when it comes to owning Thoroughbreds.

“You have to be,” Lyon said. “You’ll be out of this business if you’re not.”

Wed, 03/02/2022 - 14:00

Kentucky Derby 2022: Who's hot, who's not for March 2, 2022

WHO’S HOT