BloodHorse.com

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman With just over two weeks remaining until the Belmont Stakes, I thought now might be a good time to take an early look at the third leg of the Triple Crown to see how the race might unfold, and try to identify which horses will have the best chance of winning. Although the ...

Hospitality and the overall experience at Pimlico Race Course the week of the Preakness Stakes are always topics of conversation, in a good way. It has become a tradition—and even the slightest change appears to get noticed.During the May 19 Alibi Breakfast in the Pimlico clubhouse, trainer Bob Baffert, who loves coming for the Preakness, ...

Did you ever have a recurring dream that you were chasing someone or some thing and just as you were about to catch it you woke up?Well, trainer Keith Desormeaux has had that same dream since last June when he started chasing Nyquist. Each time he would get closer, whether with Swipe or Exaggerator, but would always wake up to the harsh ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman In many cases, handicapping a horse race involves analyzing the speed and talent of each horse and trying to project how the race will be run. Will the pace be fast and favor deep closers? Will a talented front-runner take command through easy pace fractions and never look back? ...

Although Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, the overwhelming 3-5 morning line favorite, looks to be a standout as he takes his eight-race unbeaten streak into the Preakness Stakes, it is still a horse race, with post positions and track conditions playing a role in the scenario and possibly the outcome. With all horse races, there are always ...

So, just what did we learn about Lani in the Kentucky Derby? Well, even though he finished ninth, we learned he is not the harlequin many thought he was watching his unconventional training methods at Churchill Downs and his numerous quirks. Although America has only a brief history hosting Japanese-trained horses, we can’t forget the ...

Marylanders and Maryland-bred horses have always had heart and ability. Fifty years ago Maryland-bred Kauai King won the first two legs of the Triple Crown (see page 22). Two weeks ago Maryland-bred Cathryn Sophia won the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).Regardless of where a horse is foaled and raised, it takes heart to win the Preakness Stakes ...

On June 20, 2011, the Lady Blunt Stradivarius, made by Italian Antonio Stradivari in 1721 sold at public auction for $15.9 million. A little over three years later, a yearling colt, later to be named Stradivari, failed to meet his reserve at the Keeneland September yearling sale and was bought back by his owner and breeder John Gunther for ...

 By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Now that the Kentucky Derby is over, things are starting to calm down a bit in the world of Thoroughbred horse racing, but that doesn't mean this weekend is going to be a quiet one! A quality group of stakes races is on the agenda, led by the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) ...

(On May 1, I reprinted the amazing story of Canonero II’s shocking victory in the 1971 Kentucky Derby to celebrate its 45th anniversary, and with Venezuelan connections represented in this year’s Derby by Florida Derby runner-up Majesto. As promised, here is the rest of Canonero’s remarkable story). As the Kentucky Derby hoopla began to quiet ...