Road to the Kentucky Derby

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) made up for his close call in the GIII Lecomte S. with a front-running score in the GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds, moving him up in the GI Kentucky Derby points rankings. Winchell Thoroughbreds and winning trainer Steve Asmussen also teamed up to take this event in 2016 with future Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Away a breath slower than the rest, Epicenter quickly got his hooves beneath him and tugged his way up to the front under Joel Rosario....

On the day Coolmore America sire Munnings got a new 'TDN Rising Star' in Dubai with Shahama, he also added a new stakes winner on the Derby trail with Dash Attack in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Earning 10 points on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' in this one-mile event, Dash Attack broke from the rail, took a little hop out of the gate, and settled midpack behind fractions of :23.03 and :46.38. The chestnut edged closer in earnest on the turn, but was still saving ground in eighth as...

Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and Zandon (Upstart)--the top two choices in Saturday's GII Remsen S. at the Big A--both entered off promising last-out maiden victories and put on a show down the stretch with the former getting there by a hard-fought nose while surviving a stewards' inquiry in the process. The rail-drawn, 7-5 chance Mo Donegal sat the trip in an inside fourth through easy fractions of :25.18 and :51.47 established by longshot Fromanothamutha (Unified). Locked and loaded beneath the hot-handed Irad Ortiz, Jr. rounding the far turn, he swung...

For its 150th anniversary racing season, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will boast 59 stakes worth a combined $7.795 million--up more than $600,000 from last season--during its 80-day, 2021-22 Thoroughbred meet, which is set to begin Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25. "Fair Grounds Race Track is embedded in the history of New Orleans," said Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots president Doug Shipley. "We have always been very proud to be part of such a great city and this year marks the 150th anniversary of our inaugural season. We...

The official "Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve," will begin Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs with the GIII Iroquois S., has been unveiled with a new proviso that horses under the care of suspended trainers will not be awarded points in the Derby prep races. Effective Sept. 30, points from any race in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" will not be awarded to any horse trained by any individual who is suspended from racing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby or any trainer directly or indirectly employed,...

   In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. First-year trainee Marine Moussa examines the impact of the Kentucky Derby points system that was implemented nine years ago. The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday and the excitement after four months of preparation has reached its climax. The 20 contenders have qualified for the Kentucky Derby through a points system that was implemented in 2013. The system, called 'The Road to the Kentucky Derby', features 20...

D J Stable LLC's Helium (Ironicus) overcame an impossibly wide trip and gamely fended off a late charge from the well-backed Hidden Stash (Constitution) to upset Saturday's GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby by three-quarters of a length while making his dirt and two-turn debuts. Perfect in two starts going seven furlongs over the Woodbine synthetic last year, including a 4 1/4-length success in the Display S. when last seen Oct. 18, the $55,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling graduate's worktab included a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 (1/8) at Palm...

The unbeaten Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) put himself on the map with an ultra-impressive, last-to-first victory in Friday evening's Remington Springboard Mile. Off a beat slow from his rail draw, Senor Buscador caboosed the field in 10th--some 17 lengths behind--through contested fractions of :23.52 and :47.22. He began to wind up entering the far turn, caught the eye with a visually impressive sweeping move approaching the quarter pole and kept on motoring from there to inhale the field in the stretch and win going away. Cowan, runner-up in the GII Breeders'...

Pneumatic debuted going six panels at Oaklawn Feb. 15 with a neck score over next out winner Skol Factor (The Factor) before earning TDN Rising Star status stretching to a mile in optional claiming company at the Hot Springs oval Apr. 11. Tiring to third after prompting the early pace in Churchill's GIII Matt Winn S. May 23, the dark bay finished fourth most recently in the GI Belmont S. June 20. Installed the 4-5 favorite in this field of eight, Pneumatic sat close to the pace-setting two-for-two Arkaan through...

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 - Belmont Stakes Result - Tiz the Law (+$325) proved too good for them. Bankroll: $3540. GIII Ohio Derby - Awesome field lined up and no brainer to fade Storm the Court as ML favorite based on...

JACK Thistledown Racino kicks off its 2020 racing season June 4, continuing through October 21. Thistledown will feature an eight race card Monday-Thursdays, with first post at 12:50 p.m. ET. The season will include select Saturday racing, including the 86th running of the Ohio Derby June 27 and the Best of Ohio series August 8. The GIII Ohio Derby will be part of the "Road to Kentucky Derby." Points to the top four finishers will be worth 20-8-4-2. "We are thrilled to have JACK Thistledown Racino's historic Ohio Derby become...

The GIII Ohio Derby has been added to the extension of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve." The $500,000 race will be held June 27 at Thistledown Racino. Points to the Top 4 finishers will be worth 20-8-4-2 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Also on the schedule are the June 6 GI Santa Anita Derby (100 points), the June 20 GI Belmont S. (150 points), the July 4 GIII Los Alamtios Derby (20 points), the July 8 GIII Indiana Derby (20 points), the July...