Churchill Downs

Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stables' Bless the Broken (Laoban) worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.80 (3/21) Wednesday morning at Keeneland as she prepares for her next start in the $1.5-million GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 2. "This is the first time I have worked her, and she worked nice," said Velazquez of Bless the Broken, who breezed in the company of her unraced Will Walden stablemate Mackave (Quality Road). Second to Simply Joking (Practical Joke) in the Jan. 18 Silverbulletday Stakes and third to undefeated...

GRAMMY®-nominated recording artist Grace Potter will perform the national anthem and gold medal-winning gynmast Simone Biles will deliver the call for 'riders up' for the running of this year's GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3. "Grace Potter's soulful vocals have transcended genres for more than two decades, making her a fantastic choice to lead our fans in the stands and around the country in the national anthem at this year's Kentucky Derby," said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. "Her powerful stage presence and electrifying...

The connections of Baeza (McKinzie) have had a change of heart and will ship him to Churchill Downs after all. Though some believe Baeza, the runner-up in the GI Santa Anita Derby, is among the best 3-year-olds in the sport, he has only 37.5 Derby points. That puts him at 23rd on the list. Only 20 horses can start in the race. Had this been last year, Baeza would have made it in no problem. His second-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby would have earned him 50 points, which,...

On a crisp Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby 151 contenders Coal Battle (Coal Front) and Sandman (Tapit) turned in published workouts. Sandman, winner of the GI Arkansas Derby for D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, breezed at 7:15 a.m. (all time Eastern) with trainer Mark Casse's longtime exercise rider Froylan Garcia in the irons. The grey began his work with eighth-mile splits of :13.60 and :26.40 before registering an official final time of :49.60 for four furlongs. The colt galloped out five furlongs...

This past weekend we were three weeks out from America's most historic and important horse race, and all was quiet on the GI Kentucky Derby front. Too quiet, in fact. Compared to pro and college team sports, which have expanded their wild-card and play-in formats to capitalize on the immediacy of games with win-or-go-home playoff berths on the line, the lead-up to the Derby has silently shifted in the opposite direction. Instead of maximizing the relevancy of making the final cut as the sport's main event nears, racing rolls out...

Nothing wrong with planning ahead, and trainer Kenny McPeek is doing just so after the 2024 Horse of the Year came out of her GI Apple Blossom tour-de-force in fine shape, with the GI La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs next on the list for 'Rising Star' MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). After receiving a preliminary Beyer of 93 for the romp, McPeek is already eyeballing a seventh victory at the elite level for 'the grizzly bear' and the May 2 Kentucky Oaks undercard feature is circled on the calendar....

With just three weeks remaining to the GI Kentucky Derby, a trio of probable starters turned in workouts over the Churchill main track, while another continued his preparations at Turfway Park. Trainer Steve Asmussen sent out his GII Louisiana Derby romper Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) for a five-furlong move in the company of maiden stablemate Publisher (American Pharoah). Taking to the track around 5:45 a.m., the pair went the distance in 1:00.80 in fractional times of :13, :24.80 and :36.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40 and up seven-eighths...

Guests Andrew Offerman of NYRA, Cathy Shircliff of Churchill Downs, Del Mar's David Jerkens and 1/ST Racing's Jodie Vella-Gregory, joined the latest installment of the OwnerView webinar series Apr. 8 to discuss how they ensure owners take center stage in their operations, according to a Friday press release from The Jockey Club of America who serves as one of the hosts. The panel discussed a myriad of topics related to how to improve an owner's experience at the racetrack, and the group addressed the all-important issue of how to attract...

Lonnie Briley's first starter at Churchill Downs came three years ago in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on the Thursday of Derby week. Although his trainee Cool Spirit (Mor Spirit) broke a step slow and finished last, the experience left Briley with lasting memories of Louisville. "I tell you, when the horses took off running, it was like there was an airplane taking off," Briley recalled with a soft-spoken Cajun drawl. "It was like a big roar, like the bleachers could come off the ground. It was the first time I've...

Trainer Ian Wilkes enjoyed a banner day Tuesday, winning both of Keeneland's Grade I features--the Toyota Blue Grass with Burnham Square (Liam's Map) in addition to Positano Sunset's (Goldencents) score in the Resolute Racing Madison. "Both horses got back last night to Churchill," Wilkes said Wednesday morning from his main base in Louisville. "Everything is all good. It was a really exciting day for everyone involved." Whitham Thoroughbreds' Burnham Square got up in the last stride to edge East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) by a nose in the Blue Grass with...

Trainer Brad Cox sent out GI Kentucky Derby contender Final Gambit (Not This Time) and likely GI Longines Kentucky Oaks favorite Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) for their latest breezes at Churchill Downs. Juddmonte's Final Gambit, winner of the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 at 7:15 a.m. Godolphin's Good Cheer followed with a five-furlong move in 1:00.40 at 9 a.m. Both were piloted by Cox's exercise rider Edvin Vargas. Final Gambit began his work at the 4 1/2-furlong pole, covering an opening quarter-mile in :25.40. He galloped...