Education

The Road to the Kentucky Derby that began last September is heating up with the approach of spring, culminating in the 151st “Run for the Roses” on May 3.

A cast of seven talented sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles over the main strip at Gulfstream Park in Saturday’s $265,000 Holy Bull S. (G3).

A full field of 14 three-year-olds will run 1 1/16 miles over the Fair Grounds main surface in Saturday’s $250,000 Lecomte S. (G3).

A cast of eight newly turned three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Oaklawn Park dirt in Saturday’s $250,000 Smarty Jones S.

Kentucky Derby 151 is approaching. Here our experts have compiled all the information you need for learning who to cheer on! Discover expert picks, analysis, insider news and more! Bookmark this helpful page to find regular updates and added information...

Different criteria go into the search for my next Kentucky Derby winner, but the main thing that I look for is a horse with a ‘wow factor.’ The phrase has various interpretations, but it works for me.

This is called weaning, and the foal at this point is called a weanling. He’ll keep that moniker until he reaches one-year of age, at which point he’ll be called a yearling.

Like the majority of the runners out there, Sonneteer’s initial starts came in maiden contests. Maidens are restricted to horses who have never won, or have been disqualified if they did finish first.

All horses know how to run. That’s what they do. But in the wild this is usually in straight lines or relatively open spaces.

So what qualities do these elite Kentucky Derby contenders have?