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While many of the leading Preakness contenders are preparing for the second jewel in the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, several of them coming out of the Kentucky Derby, there is one horse likely waiting for the Belmont Stakes who is tucked away far from the action, enjoying the tranquility of Saratoga Race Course and ...

As Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Justify prepares for the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1), he has plenty of trends in his favor, including Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's amazing record of winning the Baltimore classic each of the four times he's entered the Derby winner. But there is one recent trend going against this ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Kentucky Derby might be over, but handicappers with an eye on the remainder of the Triple Crown can't afford to take a week off. After all, we'll have a chance to take a look at some up-and-coming Belmont Stakes contenders in Saturday's $350,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at ...

When we address the subject of dominant sires in racing today the name that is mentioned the most is Tapit, followed by a wide variety of stallions who shine on a sporadic basis, such as the most recent star, the now deceased Scat Daddy. Looking beyond the sires are the dominant influences, headed by Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Fappiano, ...

At the press conference for the winning connections of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Churchill Downs press crew set up four chairs: one for the winning rider, one for the trainer, and two for the owner. When the winning owners entered the room, Churchill officials had to scramble for more seats. The winning owners on ...

Rick Hammerle has been racing secretary at Santa Anita for 15 years and was stakes coordinator at Monmouth Park for 12 years, and he thought he had heard everything. That is until one day in mid-February of this year. Hammerle had carded a seven-furlong maiden race for 3-year-olds, and Bob Baffert walked into his office to make sure that the ...

** Updating the column, the more I look at Bolt d'Oro the more I like everything about him, so my two win bets looking for value are Vino Rosso and Bolt d'Oro. If Vino Rosso can work out a trip from post 18 and Bolt d'Oro gets a clean trip and is in the clear, turning for home I feel they will both be very formidable down the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman After months of preparation, the field for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (gr. I) at Churchill Downs is set, and on paper, the twenty horses entered in the ten-furlong ''Run for the Roses'' comprise one of the strongest fields in ...