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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the running of the $150,000 Jerome S. at Aqueduct. Contested over a one-turn mile, the Jerome awards Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis. That means every horse in the Jerome ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The final day of 2023 brings the $150,000 Queens County S. at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile contest isn't the richest or most prestigious race taking place over the holiday weekend, but it does contain a horse I believe could make a lot of noise in 2024: #5 Signator, an ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman It's too early to have definitive feelings about the most likely winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), but I believe a colt entered in Saturday's $100,000 Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds has to be part of the conversation. I'm thinking of #6 Nash (7-5), a Godolphin ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman An intriguing Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier is taking place at Remington Park this Friday. The $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile S. has drawn nine entries, and I believe there's an opportunity to cash nice payoffs in exotic wagers. For starters, I'm confident #8 Otto the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman No trainer has enjoyed more success in the $200,000 Starlet (G2) than Bob Baffert. The Hall of Fame conditioner has won the Starlet a record nine times, including the last six editions in a row. Three of Baffert's last six winners exited victories in the Desi Arnaz S., a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman After spending the vast majority of its history as a Grade 1 race, the $500,000 Cigar Mile H. (G2) at Aqueduct has been reduced to Grade 2 status for its 2023 renewal. The change is already having an impact. Saturday's running of the one-mile contest has drawn a lighter field than ...