Kentucky Derby News

Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC’s McCraken set a new track record of 1:42.45 for 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday when rallying for a 1 1/2-length score in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) as the 3-2 favorite.
The Ian Wilkes pupil found...

Saturday’s Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs features the return not only of the unbeaten McCracken but also the colt that pushed him hardest in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs last November, Wild Shot.
Stamina...

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues on Saturday when nine sophomore fillies line up in the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The one-mile contest may not be graded but is an important part of Oaklawn’s three-year-old filly preps...

McCraken will make his long-awaited return on Saturday when facing eight rivals in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs with regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard.
The 1 1/16-mile contest makes its debut this year on the Road to...

Royal Mo kept moving forward while making his stakes and 3-year-old bow in the February 4 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, leading all the way in a 3 ½-length decision. But he must run faster to defeat better competition after generating a career-best...

Classic Empire was always going to remain atop this week’s Kentucky Derby (G1) leader board regardless of his performance in last weekend’s Holy Bull (G2). However, the juvenile champion and early Derby favorite showed plenty of vulnerability...

El Areeb posted a sharp 4 ¼-length tally in the February 4 Withers (G3), romping in a second consecutive Kentucky Derby qualifier on Aqueduct’s inner track. The gray colt hasn’t faced top company, but he’s looked the part registering...

Irish War Cry easily defeated a pair of well-regarded rivals and posted an outstanding 102 BRIS Speed rating in the February 4 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, leading wire-to-wire in a 3 ¾-length decision.
It marked the first start in a Kentucky...

Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella drew closer to the top of the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard on Sunday when romping by 8 3/4 lengths in the $196,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
The one-mile race drew a field of five but only four...

Isabelle de Tomaso’s homebred Irish War Cry led all the way home in Saturday’s $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park to move his record to a perfect three-for-three.
The chestnut colt grabbed command of the 1 1/16-mile affair soon...