BloodHorse.com

 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 ...

If we’ve learned anything about the Thoroughbred business, it’s that it sure takes a lot of hard work to get lucky.After his Nyquist stormed home in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), owner Paul Reddam was asked to explain the fact he’s now won the Run for the Roses twice. “Well, one of your colleagues told me I was the luckiest ...

It took eight races, five grade I victories, and a Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby victory, but Nyquist finally closed the book on the American Pharoah saga and began scripting his own legacy. Having to ride on the tail of the American Pharoah comet, it didn’t come easily. Racing fans either found it difficult or refused to let go of ...

''You can't explain much in 60 seconds, but when you show Michael Jordan, you don't have to. It's that simple.”  - Phil Knight, Chairman of Nike When we think of the face of NBA basketball, we may picture Michael Jordan. Maybe we think of Peyton Manning for football. Other faces of sport may include Dale Earnhardt, Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, ...

With all the big preps and impressive winners, when you get right down to it, the only prep you can truly say was fast, and I mean fast fast, not just speed figure fast, was the San Vicente Stakes, run in 1:20 3/5. And with my belief that starting the year off in a sprint is old school and still the best way to sharpen a horse and prepare him ...

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; ...