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…
Just in time for the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is offering the chance to become involved in Thoroughbred ownership, ordinarily a pricey endeavor, for the low, low price of $500. Churchill announced last week the creation of theChurchill Downs Racing Club, a partnership in which 200 people would become members—not owners—for a one-time fee of…
More than 24 hours after Paulassilverlining won her second graded stakes, the Distaff (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack April 17, owner and breeder Vincent Scuderi was still beaming. “Yeah,” he said. “I still have a smile on my face.” A 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, out of the Grindstone mare Seeking the Silver, Paulassilverlining won her first stakes race,…
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…
Training hours are coming to an end on a March morning at Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Florida. A lot of outfits have already shipped at least some of their horses north, to New York or Kentucky or Toronto, and quiet sinks over much of the training center. Not so much at Barn 11, one…
The racing world was well represented April 12 for the funeral of Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps, held at St. James’ Church on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Phipps died of pancreatic cancer April 6. Nearly filling the church, which accommodates 1,200 people, Phipps’ friends and family celebrated his life and mourned his death in an Episcopal…
Three-and-a-half years after being put under state control by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the New York Racing Association board of the directors approved a plan April 12 for a return to privatization at a meeting in New York City. The board was required by statute to submit a re-organization plan to the state this month, with…
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…
As a yearling, the bay filly wasn’t terribly remarkable. Her breeder, Robert Manfuso, thought that the modest $30,000 she brought at 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale was a fair price, and when she got to the barn of trainer John Servis, his assessment of her was frank. “I wasn’t impressed,” he said, sitting in…
Brooklyn Backstretch 