Kentucky Derby News

April 27, 2016

Making the Kentucky Derby field

The Kentucky Derby (G1) celebrates its 142nd running on May 7 at Churchill Downs, but how is the 20-strong field assembled? Who makes the decision on which horses gets in and which horses are left out of the starting gate on the first Saturday in May?
Once...

April 27, 2016

Japan's UAE Derby winner Lani breezes; Venus Valentine Preps for Oaks

Koji Maeda’s Lani, winner of the UAE Derby (Group II) in his most recent start, worked three furlongs in :37.40 with blinkers on over a track labeled fast during the 8:30-8:45 a.m. training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.
With...

Features April 27, 2016

Tales from the Crib: Lani

Lani brings international glamor into the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1), as the Japanese-based winner of the UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night. But in fact, he’s a Kentucky-born lad with Derby heroes prominent in his pedigree.
By North America’s...

April 25, 2016

Gun Runner, Creator 'Ideal' In Monday Breezes

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) contenders Creator and Gun Runner’s Monday morning breezes were “ideal” according to trainer Steve Asmussen, who sent both horses out for serious workouts during Churchill Downs’...

April 25, 2016

Five Asmussen Oaks Hopes, Carina Mia Work on Monday

It was a busy Monday for trainer Steve Asmussen, who sent a pair of Kentucky Derby hopes to the Churchill Downs track for Monday works and new fewer than five Longines Kentucky Oaks candidates were on the Churchill Downs racing surface for important breezes. 
Breezing...

April 24, 2016

Shagaf, My Man Sam Record First Churchill Downs Works

The Chad Brown-trained duo of My Man Sam and Shagaf recorded their first serious preparations for the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I). 
My Man Sam, a late-closing second in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) behind Brody’s...

Features April 24, 2016

Tales from the Crib: Exaggerator

Exaggerator has an outsized personality, and that’s no overstatement. The 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender was raised at breeder Joseph Murphy’s Stoneleigh Farm near Paris, Kentucky, where Kimberly McCormack had the pleasure of his company....

April 23, 2016

Brody's Cause, Tom's Ready, Fellowship Work at Churchill; Nyquist Breezes at Keeneland

Albaugh Family Stable’s Brody’s Cause began serious preparation for a start in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 over a fast track Saturday morning at Churchill Downs with exercise...

Features April 23, 2016

Tales from the Crib: Gun Runner

Gun Runner’s name conjures up images of derring-do, hijinks, and dangerous skirting of the law. But this 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender is no renegade from the wrong side of the tracks. On the contrary, he’s a regally bred colt who’s...

April 22, 2016

Best Kentucky Derby Winners A to Z

If you were to ask racing scribes to identify the best winners of the Kentucky Derby, the same names would dominate the short list.
But what if you changed the formula and asked for the best Kentucky Derby winner whose name begins with A, B, C, and so...

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