Kentucky Derby
Independence Hall (Constitution) tuned up for Saturday's 1 1/16-mile GIII Sam F. Davis S. with a four-furlong drill in :48.60 (10/82) at Tampa Bay Downs Sunday. "He kicked on nice. I'm very happy with the breeze," trainer Michael Trombetta said. "The way he started off [an opening eighth of a mile in about :13 seconds], you wouldn't have thought he'd breeze in :48 and change. The 'ask' was somewhere in the :48-49 range and out in the 1:01 range, and he galloped out in 1:00 4/5. So if you're choosier...
George Hall's Max Player (Honor Code) exited his victory in Saturday's GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct in fine shape and will likely make his next appearance in the Apr. 4 GII Wood Memorial. Sent to post at odds of 5-1, Max Player was in tight and taking significant kickback into the first turn before jockey Dylan Davis angled him outside for smoother sailing. Settled wide in fifth, he grinded his way into contention through the final turn and found his best stride late to put away GII Remsen S. winner...
Jack Knowlton, who heads the syndicate that owns Tiz the Law (Constitution), reported that his horse came out of Saturday's win in the GIII Holy Bull S. in good order and may go next in the Mar. 21 GII Louisiana Derby. Knowlton said the other choice is a start in the Mar. 28 GI Florida Derby, but confirmed that he was leaning toward going to Louisiana. "We have been leaning toward Louisiana all along," Knowlton said Sunday. "We are kind of intrigued by the fact they extended it to a...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 12:34 p.m. ET Ajhar (Tapit) brought $800,000 from Shadwell Stable at the 2018 Keeneland September sale--he was in fact one of three Tapit yearlings purchased by Shadwell for that amount at that auction and part of a $12,345,000 expenditure at that sale for Sheikh Hamdan's operation. The grey colt is out of 'TDN Rising Star', MGSW and GISP Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile), who herself is a half to Grade I-winning fellow 'Rising Star' A Z Warrior (Bernardini); GSW/GISP 'Rising...
Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - GIII Holy Bull S. - What a way to kick off the Brisnet Triple Crown Throwdown: three races coast to coast with at least a pair of vulnerable favorites. I'm all for taking another shot against...
GII Remsen S. winner Shotski (Blame) will take his next step down the GI Kentucky Derby trail Saturday when he returns to Aqueduct for the GIII Withers S. Earning his diploma at second asking when switched from turf to dirt at Laurel Oct. 3, the bay was fourth in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 27, but wired the field next out in the track-and-trip Remsen Dec. 7. "We know he likes the track, and we know he can get the distance," trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer told the NYRA...
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has won the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. seven times in his career, including last year with recent GIII Pegasus World Cup S. victor Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). The conditioner has a strong chance to win it for the eighth time Saturday with undefeated Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) and High Velocity (Quality Road). A $1-million KEESEP purchase, Thousand Words won on debut in Arcadia Oct. 26 and followed suit with a neck victory over GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Anneau d'Or (Medaglia d'Oro)...
The last time Sackatoga Stable and Barclay Tagg were on the GI Kentucky Derby trail together, it was with a relative no-name, at least until the First Saturday in May, when the entire racing world became aware of their future superstar Funny Cide (Distorted Humor). This time around, 17 years and some gray hairs later, all eyes will be on them and their charge from the jump, as Grade I winner Tiz the Law (Constitution) gets his highly-anticipated 3-year-old campaign underway as a heavy favorite in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull...
Barclay Tagg is a straightforward, no-nonsense type of guy who's been training horses for close to 50 years. During his career, he had a stint as an assistant to legendary hard-boot trainer Frank Whiteley, Jr., and before that, he was a steeplechase jockey. He's in his early eighties and has spent most of his adult life around Thoroughbreds, including some greats, like Ruffian. He's won some big races, too, like the Gl Kentucky Derby and that's a big package of experience he brings to the table as the man behind...
Churchill Downs is seeking its first 'Official Menu Taste Tester of the 146th Kentucky Derby.' Now through Feb. 12, the first 100 people to share their favorite original Derby party recipe will have the chance to join Churchill Downs' Executive Chef David Danielson in the racetrack's kitchen to finalize this year's official menu that will be served to thousands. To enter to win, click here. The winner of this will be awarded a trip to Louisville with a guest in March 2020 for the tasting and selection. The experience also...
What was the experience that made you fall in love with horse racing? My dad's roommate in college was Tom Durkin, and he was still good friends with my parents when I was a kid. So when I was growing up, horse racing was something that was always on the television at my house and viewed as important. But the first instance I remember being mentally captured by the sport was when I was there for Alysheba winning the Kentucky Derby. Would you commit to creating one new fan this...
As the daughter of a Hall of Fame jockey, Sherri Boland has been involved in just about every facet of the racing game, but the Ocala horsewoman will be offering her first-ever consignment during the the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale Tuesday. "I've been in the business my whole life," Boland said. "I've trained, broke babies. And I thought, you know what, I've done every other aspect of this business, why not me? Why can't I do this?" Boland is consigning under the banner Middleground, named after the...