Sun, 11/28/2021 - 19:12

Mutuel field heavily favored in first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, was a huge favorite as expected when the first of five pools in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern following a four-day wagering window.

Sun, 11/28/2021 - 13:32

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes analysis

Coady Photography
Smile Happy was given a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

Grade 2, $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Nov. 27, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Smile Happy, by Runhappy
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Owner: Lucky Seven Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 90

Mon, 11/22/2021 - 18:30

2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Pool 1 begins on Thanksgiving

Barbara D. Livingston
Champagne winner Jack Christopher, who was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is the lowest-priced individual entry on the Pool 1 morning line at 10-1.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The first of five pools in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens Thursday at noon Eastern, along with the Derby Sires Future Wager. Both pools close at 6 p.m. Sunday following four days of betting.

Mon, 11/15/2021 - 19:47

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Iroquois Stakes analysis

Coady Photography
Major General (inside) holds off Tough to Tame to win the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Sept. 18, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Major General, by Constitution
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Beyer Speed Figure: 76

Tue, 11/09/2021 - 09:18

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Breeders' Cup Juvenile analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Corniche, ridden by Mike Smith, gave Bob Baffert his fifth victory in the BC Juvenile, tying him with D. Wayne Lukas for most training win in the event.

Grade 1, $1,840,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, 1 1/16 miles, Del Mar, Nov. 5, 2021
(0 Derby qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)

Winner: Corniche, by Quality Road
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Speedway Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 91

Sun, 10/10/2021 - 20:11

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Breeders' Futurity analysis

Coady Photography
Rattle N Roll earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure with his victory in the Breeders' Futurity on Saturday.

Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity, 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland, Oct. 9, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Rattle N Roll, by Connect
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Owner: Lucky Seven Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 81

Sun, 10/03/2021 - 16:19

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Champagne Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Jack Christopher asegura el triunfo en el Champagne S. G1

Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, one mile, Belmont Park, Oct. 2, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)

Winner: Jack Christopher, by Munnings
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant
Beyer Speed Figure: 102

Sun, 10/03/2021 - 15:27

Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: American Pharoah Stakes

Emily Shields
Corniche was given an 85 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the American Pharoah Stakes.

Grade 1, $301,000 American Pharoah Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, Oct. 1, 2021

(0 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 0 for fourth)

Winner: Corniche, by Quality Road
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Speedway Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 85

Sat, 09/18/2021 - 23:33

Major General survives challenges, objection in Iroquois Stakes

Coady Photography
Major General (inside) holds off Tough to Tame to win the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – First, Major General outdueled the stubborn favorite, Stellar Tap. Then, he held off a late charge from longshot Tough to Tame. And then, he had to wait even longer, circling under the lights beneath the twin spires while jockey Javier Castellano hopped off to make his case to the stewards on the phone following a claim of foul.

Fri, 09/10/2021 - 15:19

Baffert horses will not be eligible to earn Kentucky Derby or Oaks qualifying points

Emily Shields
Bob Baffert is banned from participating in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. His stable includes the top 2-year-olds Corniche, Pinehurst, and Rockefeller.

Churchill Downs will not award Kentucky Derby qualifying points to any horse that is trained by an individual that is banned by the track for the 2022 running of the race, the track announced on Friday.