Bellafina winning the Sorrento Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar - © BENOIT PHOTO The Kentucky Oaks, on the Friday before the Run for the Roses, is shaping up to be incredibly competitive. Last year, Monomoy Girl easily won the Oaks, but this year’s favorite, Bellafina, could face some serious competition. No doubt, Bellafina’s the chalk. She’s at the top of my final Kentucky Oaks Top 5 because she’s a dynamite racehorse and the most accomplished of the [...]
We welcome in Woodbine leading jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva to talk about the upcoming season, his career, living in Canada, and more. Jason then discusses going to Monmouth Park to do some fill-in announcing.
Possible Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach will have to break the "Smarty Jones Curse" in order to win the roses. Photo by Coady Photography While it used to be common for horses to employ busy prep schedules in advance of the Kentucky Derby, in recent years, Derby winners have been taking a “less is more” approach to their winter/spring racing action. Gone are the days when a Derby winner might run seven times as a 3-year-old prior to [...]
We're talking Emerald Downs opening with the face and voice of Washington racing Joe Withee. We'll talk about the history of the track, the upcoming opening day, and more!
Anothertwistafate winning the El Camino Real Derby - © Vassar Photography/Shane Micheli How many qualification points will be required to run in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, and which horses will secure the last few slots in the starting gate? That’s the question everyone is asking now that the 2018-19 Road to the Kentucky Derby is complete, and the field of 20 horses is pretty much set. It would be set in stone ,except that there are still 19 [...]
Omaha Beach winning the Arkansas Derby (G1) - Coady Photography The final prep races have been run, the field is pretty much set, and less than three weeks remain until the 2019 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It’s being called one of the most wide-open Kentucky Derbys in recent memory, but one thing seems certain—the California contingent is strong, as usual, with four of the five probable betting favorites. Not surprisingly those four are all ranked near the [...]
We're inside 3 weeks until the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, which means daily updates dissecting every data point imaginable about the greatest two minutes in sports. It's all useful in some way, but time is money so focusing on what's important to the bottom line is a key part of enjoying the next few weeks. Joe Kristufek of Churchill Downs joins Ed DeRosa to discuss their handicapping approaches in this final stretch of Kentucky Derby preparation, including the [...]
Owendale winning the Lexington Stakes (gr. III) - Keeneland Photo What a difference two months can make. After failing to challenge when finishing eighth in the Feb. 16 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, Owendale looked like a completely different horse in the April 13 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, producing a sweeping rally from off the pace to triumph in eye-catching fashion. A wide but clean trip may have been the key factor for Owendale. Under a [...]
Omaha Beach turns back Improbable in the Arkansas Derby (G1) - Coady Photography The final prep race for the 2019 Kentucky Derby produced a thrilling finish, as Omaha Beach and Improbable battled to the wire in a strong renewal of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. Wet weather may have produced a sloppy, sealed track, but it did little to dampen the quality of the race. There’s a lot to digest, but my primary takeaways [...]
On a day when severe thunderstorms were looming throughout much of the Mid-Atlantic region, a trio of five-eighths mile harness racing ovals took center stage on Sunday. Nearing the midway point of the card at Harrah's Philadelphia - commonly known as Chester Downs among horsemen and fans - Tiger Thompson N (Dexter Dunn) easily lived up to his role as the 3-5 favorite when he brushed to command before the half in 55.1, opened a clear lead down the backside [...]
