The Lexington Stakes – Keeneland – Grade II – $325,000 – 1 1/16 Miles, by Brian Nadeau We have arrived. Saturday’s Lexington marks the final prep for the May 2 Kentucky Derby, and anyone with last ditch aspirations for the big race has 1 1/16 miles to show that they belong. The Lexington drew a…
Recapping the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby, by Brian Nadeau And then there was one. With the Arkansas Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes safely behind us, the upcoming Lexington Stakes rates as the last major prep for the Kentucky Derby. This past weekend saw a feel-good story reemerge and the strength of the West…
The Arkansas Derby – Oaklawn Park – Grade II – $1,000,000 – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau Captain Cherokee: Wasn’t disgraced in the Rebel and considering that that was his first start against stakes foes, he might be able to build off that run. Still, he meets a deeper cast in here and he’s…
The last big weekend of Derby preps sees the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby draw deep and competitive fields. Both races figure to send at least a few on to the Derby, so with precious graded stakes earnings up for grabs look for the screws to be tightened on the main contenders. Let’s take a…
Reviewing last weekend’s Derby preps, by Brian Nadeau Well, one big weekend down and one to go. The true favorite for the Kentucky Derby has emerged, and judging by I Want Revenge’s performance in the Wood Memorial, it’s going to take a serious horse to beat him. A weird and wacky Santa Anita Derby took…
The Santa Anita Derby – Grade I – $500,000 – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau Finally the long anticipated meeting between West Coast leaders The Pamplemousse and Pioneerof The Nile, but there are a few others signed on that have thoughts on spoiling the party and making a case for a Derby berth. Let’s…
The Wood Memorial – Aqueduct – $500,000 – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau The centerpiece of the Aqueduct spring meet offers several a last chance at securing enough graded stakes earnings, while giving the overwhelming favorite–I Want Revenge–a chance to show that his romp in the Gotham last month wasn’t a fluke. Any Dunkirk…
The Illinois Derby – Hawthorne Race Course – $500,000 – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau The first of three big Derby preps this weekend, and there’s a lot of money to be had. The winner will be guaranteed a spot in the Derby starting gate, while pushing Dunkirk that much farther down the list.…
Re-cap of the Florida Derby, by Brian Nadeau There were a lot of questions answered by a couple different horses on Saturday, but sadly only one is likely going to get a chance at Churchill Downs. Quality Road consolidated his huge Fountain of Youth win with another big performance, turning back the previously undefeated Dunkirk…
The Florida Derby – Grade I, $750,000 – Gulfstream Park – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau Not the deepest renewal of the Florida Derby, but that’s what happens when you have three big colts who will command all the attention. And this running takes on added significance when you factor that all three of…
Brooklyn Backstretch 