by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Churchill Downs: The GI, $2 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles #1 Trojan Nation (50-1): Gigantic longshot almost blew up the board at 81-1 when he came up the inside in Aqueduct’s muddy GI Wood Memorial to run second, beaten just a head by fellow rival Outwork,…
On Saturday at about 6:30 pm, 20 horses will line up to run for the roses in the Grade I, $2 million Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands. Post positions and morning line odds were announced yesterday, and with the publication last night of past performances, handicappers began putting the final phase of making selections…
With a week to go until Kentucky Derby 142, the expected field has taken shape, with entries and post positions to be drawn on Wednesday, May 4. Bear in mind, though, that in recent years, the week before the Kentucky Derby has seen significant scratches, with high-profile horses dropping out and making room for those…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Keeneland: The GIII, $150,000 Lexington at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) While this year’s Lexington likely won’t send anyone to the Kentucky Derby, as no one can secure a berth with a win, there’s some intrigue, as a few classy runners from major barns take…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Oaklawn Park: The GI, $1 million Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 100-40-20-10) #1 Discreetness (20-1): Deep closer didn’t make any headway behind many of these when seventh in both of the two local graded stakes, the GIII Southwest in February and GII Rebel…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Santa Anita: The GI, $1 million Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 100-40-20-10) #1 Denman’s Call (15-1): The potential inside speed stretches out off some fast-paced local sprints and likely has to go from the rail here to maintain his position, so right…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Aqueduct: The GI, $1 million Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 100-40-20-10) #1 Shagaf (2-1): Expected favorite made it 3-for-3 when he rode one of the most intense speed biases in recent memory early before tipping out off the far turn to win the…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Keeneland: The GI, $1 million Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 100-40-20-10) #1 Looking for a Kiss (50-1): Gigantic longshot will make his first start for Tomlinson after two modest runs for Romans and will need a monumental jump in his form to even…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Turfway Park: The GIII, $500,000 Spiral at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) While the Spiral has lost a lot of luster in recent years as synthetic racing has fallen out of favor, it still ranks as essentially a “Win and You’re In” race for the…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Gulfstream Park: The GI, $1 million Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100-40-20-10) #1 Sawyers Mickey (30-1): Ridiculous longshot enters as a maiden after seven starts and likely wouldn’t even be under 6-1 if he were entered with his own kind earlier on the…
Brooklyn Backstretch 