Kentucky Derby News

After finishing second in the February 11 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, Tapwrit figured to be trying to turn the tables on McCraken in Saturday’s $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). But the absence of the leading Kentucky Derby contender due...

A field of 11 sophomore fillies will line up Saturday in the next race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks – the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
The 1 1/16-mile contest is part of the Championship portion of the series and will award...

J Boys Echo significantly raised his Kentucky Derby profile in the March 4 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, registering a 104 BRIS Speed rating the 3 ½-length victory. That’s the top number from a 2017 qualifying race, two points better...

A multiple graded stakes winner, Gunnevera had plenty of experience but his BRIS Speed ratings were lacking entering the March 4 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. He stepped up while rallying last-to-first in the 1 1/16-mile race, generating...

Wins by Gunnevera in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and J Boys Echo in the Gotham (G3) last Saturday elevated the two colts to the top of the Kentucky Derby (G1) leader board, thus virtually cementing their participation in the year’s first classic...

Classic Empire, last year’s unanimous champion two-year-old colt, has had a bumpy ride on the  Kentucky Derby (G1) trail so far this year.
Diagnosed with a foot abscess after his subpar third in the February 4 Holy Bull (G2), he was all...

Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella pulled off yet another easy victory on Saturday when taking the $100,345 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park by 2 1/4 lengths.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Mike Smith, Unique Bella was challenged...

The day of upsets in Kentucky Derby (G1) preps continued Saturday from the Gotham (G3) to the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, where Gunnevera turned in an explosive stretch run to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 5 3/4 lengths, while even-money...

Purse earnings in non-restricted stakes is all that separate Farrell and Unique Bella on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard. Farrell currently sits on top due to more of those earnings but Unique Bella has tied it up in terms of points, with each filly boasting...

J Boys Echo blew past a tiring El Areeb in upper stretch and drew off to a 3 ½-length decision in Saturday’s $300,000 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, putting himself into the Kentucky Derby picture with the 50-point prize. Robby Albarado was up...