Kentucky Derby News

Derby News February 27, 2020

O’Briens square off in Patton on European Road to Kentucky Derby

Friday’s Patton S. at Dundalk is likely to go to an O’Brien-trained horse. But will it be one of Aidan O’Brien’s trio, or son Joseph’s duo who will pick up points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby?
Joseph has the...

February 27, 2020

Patton Stakes Study Guide

A total of 10 sophomores will go postward in the Patton S. at Dundalk in Ireland on Friday. The 2020 European Road to the Kentucky Derby event is the first of three to be held across the pond this season, and it will reward points to the top-four...

February 27, 2020

Maximum Security captains Team USA in $20 million Saudi Cup

Champion Maximum Security goes for the world’s richest horse race, the new $20 million Saudi Cup, at King Abzulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday.
And he’s not the only veteran of the Triple Crown trail among the international cast....

February 26, 2020

Ray York, won 1954 Kentucky Derby on Determine, dead at 86

Former jockey Ray York, who guided the gray colt Determine to victory in the 1954 Kentucky Derby, died on Feb. 23 in a Bakersfield, California, extended-care facility after a year-long battle with pneumonia. He was 86.
A native of Massachusetts, York...

February 26, 2020

Tonalist’s Shape faces new challengers in nine-horse Davona Dale

A romping winner of the Feb. 1 Forward Gal (G3), Tonalist’s Shape will put her unbeaten record in Saturday’s $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The one-mile test serves a qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, awarding...

Features February 25, 2020

Tales from the Crib: Dennis' Moment

If you needed any evidence that Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Dennis’ Moment is unflappable, just watch his career debut at ChurchillDowns last June.
Advancing on the rail in the initial stages, the Albaugh Family Stables runner was badly...

February 24, 2020

Churchill Downs Releases Early Nominations to $1.25 Million Longines Kentucky Oaks

Champion 2-year-old filly British Idiom, winner of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I), tops the roster of 116 early nominations to the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), North America’s premier race for 3-year-old...

Horse Profile February 24, 2020

Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Cafe Pharoah

Koichi Nishikawa’s Cafe Pharoah earned 30 points on the 2020 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby following his superb 1 1/4-length score in the Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan. The exciting colt finished off the 1,600-meter test in a...

February 23, 2020

Cafe Pharoah overcomes slow start, surges to Japan Road leadership in Hyacinth

Hot favorite Cafe Pharoah extended his record to a perfect 2-for-2 in Sunday’s Hyacinth S . at Tokyo, taking over the top spot on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with 30 points. But the American Pharoah colt accomplished the objective in an...

Expert picks February 21, 2020

Expert Pick of the Week: Hyacinth Stakes

A big field of 14 sophomores will take aim at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday in the Hyacinth S. The third race on the “2020 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” challenge series will reward the top-four finishers with points on a 30-12-6-3 points...

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