Kentucky Derby News

Pedigree fun facts January 25, 2021

Pedigree fun facts: Midnight Bourbon

The Man o’ War sire line hasn’t come up with a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner since Triple Crown sweeper War Admiral (1937), a factoid that current contender Midnight Bourbon hopes to erase.
Midnight Bourbon’s sire, Hall of Famer Tiznow,...

Horse Profile January 24, 2021

Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Caddo River

Shortleaf Stable’s homebred Caddo River earned 10 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby following his 10 1/4-length tally in the $150,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 22. The winner completed one mile on the fast main surface...

January 24, 2021

The Grass Is Blue mows them down in Busanda

Despite pulling early in first-time blinkers, Louis Lazzinnaro’s The Grass Is Blue still packed a punch late in Sunday’s $97,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct. The 1.75-1 favorite rallied past Coffee Bar to earn her first stakes victory, along...

Derby News January 23, 2021

Essential Quality-led Derby leaderboard bracing for more steady changes

The 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) is less than 100 days away, but the current leaderboard looks as you might expect through the third week in January — not overly indicative of how things will look a month from now much less three.
Essential Quality,...

January 22, 2021

Caddo River turns Smarty Jones into a runaway

Caddo River's two-turn and stakes debut in Friday's $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park turned into a runaway as the Hard Spun colt seized command early and walloped the opposition in the one-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby test.
Holding...

Expert picks January 21, 2021

Expert Pick of the Week: Smarty Jones Stakes

A field of seven sophomores will travel a two-turn mile in Friday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park. The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will give out qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top-four finishers towards...

January 21, 2021

The Grass Is Blue adds blinkers for Busanda

After a rallying neck third in the Dec. 26 Ann Arundel County S. at Laurel Park, The Grass Is Blue heads a field of five fillies entered for Sunday’s $100,000 Busanda S. at Aqueduct.
The 1 1/8-mile race will award points on a 10-4-2-1 scale as...

January 20, 2021

Early Nominations for 2021 Triple Crown Due Saturday

Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to become eligible to the 2021 Triple Crown series are due Saturday, Jan. 23 with a $600 payment.
Nominations can be made online at www.TheTripleCrown.com or by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office...

Wagering January 19, 2021

Undefeated Life Is Good Made Early 6-1 Individual Favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager

CHC Inc and WinStar Farm’s undefeated $100,000 Sham Stakes (Grade III) winner Life Is Good was made the 6-1 individual morning line favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”) but the pari-mutuel field of “All...

January 17, 2021

Charlie’s Penny shines in Silverbulletday upset

As odds-on favorite Sun Path sputtered in the stretch of Saturday’s $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, Charlie’s Penny kicked on best of all to post a 9-1 upset at Fair Grounds. The Minnesota-bred passed her first two-turn test and earned 10...

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