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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Every year around this time, I make a point of analyzing the prospective Kentucky Derby field and determining whether a fast or slow pace is likely to unfold in the ''Run for the Roses.'' Most of the time, it's not that difficult. Occasionally the Derby will unfold in a manner that ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Six months after the series began, the 2022-23 Road to the Kentucky Derby wraps up with Saturday's running of the $400,000 Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile contest awards Kentucky Derby (G1) qualification points on a 20-8-6-4-2 split to the top five finishers. That's ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its climax on Saturday with the running of the $1 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita, and the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. After analyzing the entries, I'm keen to support one ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The first day of April brings two prominent prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby: the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Both races have drawn large fields. Let's check out the key contenders and plan ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Slowly but surely, quietly but steadily, the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds is emerging as one of the most influential prep races for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The numbers craft a compelling story. The Louisiana Derby has produced at least one Kentucky ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman If you want to breed a superstar U.S. turf horse, where would you begin? Perhaps by crossing the genetics of Kitten's Joy and English Channel, two of the top U.S. turf stallions of the last decade. Breeders' Cup winners Stephanie's Kitten, Oscar Performance, Bobby's Kitten. ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Limehouse. Verrazano. Carpe Diem. Destin. Tapwrit. What do these five colts have in common? A lot, actually. They were all conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. They all competed in the Kentucky Derby (G1). And they all won the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The first week of March is a giant one on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Four U.S. prep races are on the agenda, along with a European Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in Ireland. Two of the most important events are the San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita and the Fountain of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes an exciting turn this Saturday with the running of the 1 1/16-mile Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The last 20 years have seen the Rebel rise steadily in prominence. Rebel winners Smarty Jones (2004) and American Pharoah (2015) both went on to ...