OK, so two weeks ago, someone tells you the April 9 Wood Memorial (gr. I), Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and Illinois Derby (gr. III) are going to be won by Toby's Corner, Midnight Interlude, and Joe Vann, respectively, and that Arthur's Tale is going to finish second in the Wood. Which of the following would have been your reply: a) Huh? b) Who? c) What? d) All of the above....
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Starting Gate spaces are filling at a rapid rate and there aren't many left for all the horses scheduled to run over the next two weekends....
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Rising star Graham Motion has 3 on Derby Trail....
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Archarcharch, a contender despite dropping off Future Wager....
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Looking for a potential Derby contender coming out of this weekend's races? You might want to look outside the winner's circle....
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After 40 years, his amazing story needs to be told again....
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The Factor's win and some interesting grass horses to watch....
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At Aqueduct recently, it was suggested by Jim Gluckson of the NTRA/Breeders' Cup that I reprint a column I wrote several years ago on Jim French. He reminded me that this is the 40th anniversary of his remarkable and unprecedented Triple Crown campaign. With the majority of top Derby contenders having only two or three Derby preps, this is the perfect time to revisit the plucky little Jim French....
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Ky. Derby Trail: 'Pegasus' puts Myung Cho hot on the trail. ...
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I hope J P's Gusto makes it to the Derby, just so I can catch a few moments with Joe Petalino and talk about Alysheba, who in my mind is one of the three most underrated horses of all time....
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This is not about who is going to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) as much as who so far has the look of a Derby winner--who is on track to peak on Derby Day, who looks eager to do more than they already have, and who has exhibited the attributes that normally win the Derby. ...
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Repole didn't bat an eye and immediately fired off the first salvo. "Come on, Stay Thirsty wins the Gotham and you guys have to show Uncle Mo," he told them. "Come on, give the guy a little credit; holy cow."...
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It took only a week for the Derby picture to get muddled again, as To Honor and Serve’s disappointing effort left a log jam at the top of the list. ...
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One of the great aspects of the Derby trail is that in most cases the decisions made are not proven right or wrong until the first Saturday in May. So, you can debate all you want whether the decision to start Uncle Mo’s 3-year-old campaign off in the newly created one-mile Timely Writer Stakes is a good one or a bad one. Right now, it is nothing more than fodder for opinion....
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Just when it looked as if form was about to do an about face and leave us with a core of 3-year-olds who like the past couple of years keep beating each other, up popped Much Macho Man, Santiva, and Rogue Romance to boost last year's form by finishing 1,2,3 in Saturday's Risen Star Stakes (gr. II). ...
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It just goes to show you how fragile life is on the Derby trail, metaphorically, of course. One minute you're sitting comfortably near the top of the contenders list and the next you're in a free fall....
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Our report on this weekend’s stakes action will appear on Tuesday, but for now there are several allowance and maiden races from the past several weeks that should be touched on, based solely on observation....
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Over the past decade or so, racing has seen a new breed of owner enter the sport, many with a corporate philosophy. And like most corporations, there is the need for a manager, whether he or she goes by the title of GM or in this instance racing manager....
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The following is the Derby preview article that will appear in the Feb. 12 issue of the Blood-Horse. But before we get to that, let's try something different this year. Debuting this week is the Derby Dozen. But what are the chances even half of those horses listed will even make it to Churchill Downs? And what are the chances the Derby winner is among them? ...
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Next week, Blood-Horse magazine officially kicks off its Kentucky Derby coverage with a Derby preview cover story, the Derby contenders' racing and pedigree profiles, and, of course, the Derby Dozen....
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Our vehicle, driven by David Ingordo, passed through the security gate and headed down a long tree-lined road. You could feel the anticipation. The image that came to mind was Dorothy and company heading down that long corridor to see the Wizard of Oz. Only this time there would be no shooting flames and deceptive illusions. There would be only Zenyatta, in the flesh, a million miles from the world she inhabited for the past three years....
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It is now 2011 and that means we have officially embarked on the Kentucky Derby trail. Here in the East it's been difficult to see even the slightest hint of rose blossoms buried beneath 20-30 inches of snow drifts. But, heck, they've already run the first Derby prep (the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct)....
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With all the talk surrounding the Zenyatta -- Blame Horse of the Year battle, the brilliant, but sometimes strange career of Quality Road has quickly faded from public consciousness, due in good part to the colt's uncharacteristic last-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Quality Road will be remembered for his brilliance and personality....
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The following essay by retired Quebec English teacher Abigail Anderson was written in response to my last blog on Zenyatta. Although it is quite long, it is so brilliantly written and researched I felt it should be shared it with everyone....
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I stated in my last blog that it would be the last one on Zenyatta. Well, now that her farewell appearances at Hollywood and Keeneland have come and gone, I have discovered the Zenyatta reservoir is a lot deeper than I thought. ...
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