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 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…
The Lane’s End Recap, by Brian Nadeau One of the problems with giving away $500,000 in graded stakes money in a Kentucky Derby prep is that the winner is automatically going to be qualified for a Derby starting berth. And that’s what we saw on Saturday in the Lane’s End, when Hold Me Back made…
The Lane’s End – Grade II, $500,000 – Turfway Park – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau The Derby Trail heads to Turfway Park this weekend for the Lane’s End Stakes. With a $500,000 purse on the line, this race offers the winner an essentially guaranteed a spot in the Derby starting gate. Bittel Road…
Brooklyn Backstretch 