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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The preparations began months ago, when the two-year-old racing began at Saratoga and Del Mar. Since then, I have watched hundreds of races and dozens of workout videos; I've analyzed an untold number of result charts; I've calculated the fractions of all the major Derby prep races; ...

They say to err is human; to forgive, divine. Well, why can’t that apply to horses as well? Here we have a field of Derby horses that as a whole is so baffling, with so many twists, turns, and angles, it can drive you batty.We have a plethora of horses, 16 to be exact, who are coming off a first, second, or third-place finish in their final prep. ...

Perhaps the oldest adage in Thoroughbred racing is pace makes the race. It may have even pre-dated George Smith, also known as famed horseplayer Pittsburg Phil, who is featured in the Blood-Horse 100th anniversary feature in this week’s print edition (see page 20). Snippets from Racing Maxims and Methods of Pittsburg Phil, edited and published by ...

1 Nyquist Doug O'Neill Uncle Mo—Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry Sometimes in a year like this you have to play defense, and he is the one horse in the race who can make you look foolish by going against him. Or is that offense? How do you justify going against an undefeated champion and four-time grade I winner and easy winner of the Florida ...

In 1992, Lil E. Tee finished second in the Arkansas Derby, after which he was equipped with a shadow roll for the Kentucky Derby by trainer Lyn Whiting. We all know how that decision turned out. Now, nearly a quarter of a century later, another Arkansas Derby runner-up is being equipped with a shadow roll in the Kentucky Derby.Trainer Donnie Von ...

With Venezuela once again invading the Kentucky Derby in the form of Grupo 7C Racing Stable, Gustavo Delgado, and Emisael Jaramillo, owner, trainer, and jockey, respectively, of Florida Derby runner-up Majesto, I thought this would be a good time to once again re-tell the remarkable story of Canonero, especially with today being the 45th ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Anyone that has ever played the trifecta or superfecta in the Kentucky Derby knows that finding live longshots is the key to hitting those bets. With two exceptions, every Kentucky Derby since 2001 has seen at least one horse at odds of 20-1 or higher finish in the superfecta, and ...

1 Nyquist Doug O'Neill Uncle Mo—Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry He continues to do well at Keeneland and turned in his typical Doug O’Neill workout. He still, however, keeps cocking his head slightly to the right as if looking at whatever activity there is along the rail. The key has been to build up the colt’s foundation, having had only one ...