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If you enjoyed the Kentucky Derby dream, no sense waking up now. You might as well keep dreaming until you are jolted back to reality, if and when that ever occurs. Kentucky Derby winners often run better in the Preakness, despite the two-week comeback, or maybe because of it, and it would not be surprising to see Always Dreaming win the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Two weeks after an exciting Kentucky Derby that saw Always Dreaming cruise to a decisive victory, the field is set for the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Nine challengers will line up to face the Derby winner, though according to ...

Even though we have a pretty lousy record of selecting winners of the Preakness Stakes (G1), despite its being perhaps the most formful Triple Crown race, there are three “sure things” on the agenda prior to the main event May 20. First up, no matter what the weather forecast says before departing for Baltimore, it will change dramatically by the ...

(Be aware this is pretty long, what else is new. But it was the only way to properly tell the story of Allen Jerkens’ greatest year, which ties in to him being honored with a grade 1 stakes named after him) Of all the stakes on NYRA’s calendar to change to the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, none would have made the Hall of Fame trainer happier ...

 By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea An hour after Always Dreaming crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), the colt's trainer made an announcement about his Derby prize, a new Ram truck. ''I will definitely take the truck because it has significant sentimental meaning to me,'' Todd Pletcher said. ''But I'd ...

Todd Pletcher and old-school training have never exactly been synonymous. Pletcher is known for being a conservative trainer, preferring long periods of time between races. Pletcher has been known to run impressive maiden winners right back in graded stakes, even in grade 1s, and not using their allowance conditions. Since 2007, Pletcher has not ...

An inside look at a day in the life of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming's dam, Above Perfection, at Dromoland Farm.  Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm, home of Always Dreaming's dam Above Perfection. Order This Photo    Above Perfection walking on a farm lane. Order This PhotoAlways Dreaming was ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman During the two-week gap between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, racing fans will get a chance to look ahead to the final leg of the Triple Crown when Belmont Park hosts the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), a nine-furlong prep race for the Belmont Stakes. Although the ...

As I have done the past several years, I thought it would be interesting to go back week by week and re-live the observations, race reports, workout reports, and any news regarding the eventual Kentucky Derby winner, who in this case first appeared in the Knocking at the Door section on February 28. February 28 With McCraken’s injury, ...

The sport of Thoroughbred racing puts on its best show on the first Saturday in May. While the weather might not have cooperated with those in Louisville during the week, the atmosphere was electric, the racing was spectacular, and the pulse of the game showed it is still strong. Could things be better? Sure, but the weekend showed that the two ...