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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') @J_Keelerman Get ready, folks! We’re about to pass the eighth pole on the road to the Kentucky Derby! Only five official prep races remain on the schedule, and three of them—all worth 100 qualification points to their winners—will be run this Saturday. Among the starters are such well-regarded contenders as ...

The three major Triple Crown prep races Saturday, April 4, will feature enhanced security protocols, which on one level is good news, but also serves as reminder of how much more is needed. The New York Racing Association for the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), Keeneland for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), and Stronach ...

1 American Pharoah Bob Baffert Pioneerof the Nile—Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman Guess what 3-year-old has the highest Brisnet late pace figures in his last two starts? No, it’s not a late closer as one might expect, it is American Pharoah, whose late pace figs of 109 and 108 indicate that this colt, despite being a frontrunner at ...

Most racetracks provide services to owners and horsemen, assisting with seats in the clubhouse or transportation or recommendations to top-shelf restaurants in the area.Many owners, however, are not necessarily aware these services are available or may not know whom to contact when they arrive to compete at an unfamiliar track in an unfamiliar ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') @J_Keelerman The first three 100-point Kentucky Derby qualification races were held last Saturday, and the results—while not overly surprising—served to further confuse a puzzling Kentucky Derby trail, resulting in more questions asked than answered. We’ll begin with the UAE Derby (UAE-II) at Meydan in ...

It has been said that I have a good eye for a horse. Certainly I have bought a great many. Some were good and many were not. Admittedly, when I have picked out and bought a good horse (like Palace Malice for instance), I can get a little high on myself. But, I have a framed copy of a certain sales catalog page hung prominently in my office, and a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') @J_Keelerman The last Saturday in March is a day that I mark on my calendar far in advance each year. Without question, it is one of the best days of racing every year, and 2015 promises to be no exception. Across the world in Dubai, a nine-race program worth $30 million will be highlighted by the $10 ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') @J_Keelerman On Saturday, the racing world will turn its attention to Dubai, where an impressive slate of eight graded stakes races worth a combined $29 million will be held at Meydan. Headlining the action is the world’s richest horse race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), in which reigning U.S. ...