Kentucky Derby
Besides solidifying his status as a top-tier Triple Crown threat, Saturday's win by Known Agenda (Curlin) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby bolstered the overall case that the phase-out of Lasix in this year's series of GI Kentucky Derby preps seems to be having no adverse effect on performance. Through 20 races in North America since Jan. 1 that have awarded Derby qualifying points, horses giving up Lasix after receiving it in their prior start have won five of those races. Seven others have finished second, an impressive strike rate...
Godolphin's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) recorded his final breeze ahead of Saturday's GII Wood Memorial S. presented by Resorts World Casino, covering a half mile in a best-of-30 :47.60 at Palm Meadows Sunday morning. "He worked here this morning at Palm Meadows and it went very well and he's flying up there [to Aqueductus] on Wednesday," said conditioner Brendan Walsh. "It looks like he's going into the race in good shape. It's another step now, so we'll find out if he can go the two turns as...
St Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin) appears to have exited his victory in Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby in good order. "Excellent. He came back in great shape, good energy. I'm very happy with him," trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. "He'll stay here for a little while. We'll just kind of monitor the weather everywhere and play it by ear whether he has one work at Churchill [Downs] or two works [before the GI Kentucky Derby." Third in December's GII Remsen S., the son of GISW Byrama (GB) (Byron...
St Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin) upped trainer Todd Pletcher's record of GI Curlin Florida Derby wins to six while taking the race sponsored by his leading sire in impressive fashion Saturday. "It has so many great meanings, but for me what is so special about this is to win it for St Elias with a horse that they bred," Pletcher said. "I know how much that means to them, that makes it a little more extra special for us." The 5-1 shot saved all the ground early in...
M Racing Group LLC's Like the King (Palace Malice) parlayed a farther back than normal trip into a breakout victory in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, earning 100 GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the process. Off at 7-1, the Wesley Ward pupil broke cleanly from the rail but was unhurried by Drayden Van Dyke and settled into a midpack spot while hugging the fence around the first turn. Dropping farther back down the backside behind a strong pace, he was switched out for clear sailing heading...
Any discussion of the world's leading turf sires must include Darley in Europe's Dubawi (Ire), but for all the success he has had with his runners on the grass, his strike rate on the dirt--particularly in Dubai--is nothing short of stunning. The sire of World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (and Monterosso {GB} on the Tapeta), Dubawi has also accounted for such horses as Hunter's Light (Ire), Benbatl (GB) and Mubtaahij (Ire). The latter took out the 2015 UAE Derby, and as the sun began to set Saturday at Meydan,...
The late nomination period for all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to compete in the races of the 2021 Triple Crown are due by Monday, Mar. 29 with a $6,000 payment. Late Triple Crown nominations can be made online at www.thetriplecrown.com or by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office at (502) 638-3825. This year's early Triple Crown nominations, which cost $600 and closed Jan. 23, attracted 326 horses. This season's Triple Crown begins with the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs followed by the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15....
It's not what you would think. Not the invincible, fist-pumping, chest-bumping days. No, the real bond is forged exactly where the rest of us would least imagine—in the moments of disappointment, moments of doubt. That's where you really learn about each other. "Honestly, thinking back, what I remember most is those bus rides back from games we lost," says Patrick O'Neill. "And that's crazy to say. We were very competitive. Second or third, pretty much every year we played in the Ivy League. But it's those losses where you really...
Trainer William Morey picked up three for his stable while shopping the 2-year-old sales in Ocala last spring. Two of them, led by the streaking GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks-bound Hush of a Storm (Creative Cause), will compete on Saturday's loaded program at Turfway Park. "Two have won stakes, and, of course, the other filly hasn't made the races," Morey said. "We've had some bitter and sweet, but lots of sweet along the way." Hush of a Storm, a $75,000 OBS Spring purchase (:21 3/5; consigned by de Meric Sales) by...
A Triple Crown winner in his native Barbados, Saffie Joseph Jr. took his first shot at America's Classics in 2020 with GISP Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), who failed to hit the board in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. last fall before heading to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Fast forward to 2021, Joseph returns to the Triple Crown trail with another exciting prospect in Three Chimneys Farm and eFive Racing's Collaborate (Into Mischief), who is slated to contest Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby...
Greatest Honour (Tapit--Tiffany's Honour, by Street Cry {Ire}) has done everything perfectly in South Florida this winter. Coming off of three straight wins at Gulfstream Park, including the GIII Holy Bull S., and the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., Greatest Honour is headed to the GI Curlin Florida Derby this weekend and likely to be the heavy favorite. In each of his last three victories, Greatest Honour has executed a confident late surge, mowing down his competition in the stretch. The extra sixteenth of a mile in the Florida...
Additional ticket inventory for the 147th running of the GI Kentucky Derby will go on sale to the general public Friday, Mar. 26 at noon Eastern time. The newest options, good for both Derby day May 1 and the preceding afternoon's GI Kentucky Oaks program, are uncovered reserved bleacher-type seating in the first turn and uncovered box seating for groups of six in the infield. There will also be a limited number of first- and second-floor grandstand reserved seats available for purchase. Click here for ticket information. For 2021, all...