Kentucky Derby News

July 24, 2016

California Chrome wins epic San Diego battle over Dortmund

Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego H. (G2) at Del Mar pitted 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero California Chrome against Dortmund, who was third to American Pharoah in the 2015 Kentucky Derby. The elder “Chrome” was favored at odds of 4-5, with...

July 23, 2016

Sanford winner Bitumen has long game potential

New York's first graded stakes of the season for juvenile males, Saturday's $150,000 Sanford (G3) at Saratoga, fell to Bitumen, who fans at Churchill Downs have reason to remember as a good-looking, 6 3/4-length debut winner June 30.
Rather...

July 17, 2016

Lull impresses in Belmont Park debut

Perhaps the most exciting two-year-old filly to run last week is LULL, trained by Christophe Clement for owners/breeders Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. The bay lass by War Front romped in her debut at Belmont Park on Saturday, July 16, leading...

July 17, 2016

Nyquist, Gun Runner on target for Haskell

Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Nyquist, last seen finishing third in the Preakness (G1), is gearing up for a return to action in Monmouth Park’s $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) on July 31. The 1 1/8-mile test is expected to attract fellow Derby...

July 15, 2016

California Diamond shines in Santa Anita Juvenile

California Diamond rallied to edge more fancied rivals on Santa Anita’s closing weekend, scoring by three-quarters of a length in the $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile on July 9. Overlooked as the 6-1 fifth choice among six contestants, the California-bred...

July 14, 2016

The wait is over thanks to Landaluce winner

A pair of stakes last Saturday showcased a couple of nice two-year-old fillies, so that’s where this week’s juvenile filly report begins.
Santa Anita Park’s Landaluce Stakes has proven a good spot to test the young lasses, and THEONEWEWAITEDFOR...

July 8, 2016

Silver Mission heads Pletcher brigade so far

Seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher will wait until the upcoming Saratoga meet to unveil a large contingent of 2-year-olds, but the 2009 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer has already sent out some promising youngsters on the East Coast.
Silver...

July 7, 2016

Thirstforlife, Bitumen merit recognition as well as the exciting Classic Empire

The Bashford Manor (G3) for 2-year-olds was part of Churchill Downs’ closing day last Saturday and my colleague Kellie Reilly has already highlighted the winner, Classic Empire, in a recent piece on sire Pioneerofthenile, who is best known for producing...

July 4, 2016

American Pharoah’s sire has exciting 2017 Derby prospect in Classic Empire

After John C. Oxley’s Classic Empire recovered from a sluggish start to catch the brilliantly fast Recruiting Ready in Saturday night’s Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs, the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) buzz was off and running.
That’s...

July 4, 2016

Ever So Clever races into Kentucky Oaks conversation

Ever So Clever pretty much walked out of the gate in the 4TH race at Churchill Downs on Friday, but exploded with a powerful run in the stretch to score a pulling off 7 1/4-length victory under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.
That, coupled with the nice 86...

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