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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby is complete, and the field is coming into focus for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1). It's time to ponder an annual handicapping question: how fast a pace will unfold in the Run for the Roses? As the old saying goes, pace makes the race, and that's ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Seven months after it began, the 2024-2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes on Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile race is unlikely to produce a Kentucky Derby (G1) starter, but we could certainly see a Preakness (G1) contender ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Arguably the most wide-open Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier taking place this Saturday (barring a postponement due to heavy rain) is the $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. The seven-horse field is small in size, but quality runs deep. Four of the entrants have won ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Five weeks out from the Kentucky Derby (G1), two pivotal prep races are on the agenda. The $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park have both drawn promising fields. We'll analyze both in this week's edition of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman A 10-horse field has assembled for Saturday's $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. The 1 3/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier has churned out a bevy of top-three Kentucky Derby (G1) finishers over the past 15 years, including winners Country House and ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs has undergone a few transformations through its history. It started out as a 1 1/4-mile turf race. It shortened to 1 1/8 miles and moved to Laurel Park for three runnings as the Commonwealth Derby. Then it returned to Colonial Downs as ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby heads to Tampa Bay Downs this Saturday for the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). A quality field has entered the 1 1/16-mile race. Three of the seven entrants are stakes winners. Three of the seven have won or placed at the Grade 1 level. Five of the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The first day of March is packed with high-profile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers. Three stakes worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers are on the agenda. Let's take a look at each one: Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park There are four ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman An excellent field has assembled for Sunday's Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park, as is befitting for a race offering a $1.25 million purse and 50-25-15-10-5 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points. There plenty of logical contenders to consider, so let's quickly analyze some of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Saturday's $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds has drawn a strong field befitting its status as the first 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers. A field of 13 has entered, and it includes two of the most accomplished ...