BloodHorse.com

February 2011 - Posts

Ky. Derby Trail: Dis and Dat

89 Comments

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. ...

Ky. Derby Trail: Mos and Cons

144 Comments

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....

Ky. Derby Trail: Mucho Gracias

96 Comments

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). ...

Ky. Derby Trail: A Tap Top Flop

64 Comments

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....

Ky. Derby Trail: Catching up on the Sleepers

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....

Ky. Derby Trail: Leave the Training to Trainers

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....

Ky. Derby Trail: A Challenge to the Derby Dozen

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? ...