BloodHorse.com

 For Kentucky Oaks Day Analysis, scroll to the second half of this blog post Saturday, Churchill Downs Race 11The G1 Kentucky DerbyBy Robert Finnegan Handicapping the Kentucky Derby tends to be nasty, brutish, and long, and handicapping the 2014 edition was certainly no exception for us. There are so many approaches one can take, so many ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) It is with a degree of confusion and uncertainty that I sit down to write my analysis of the Kentucky Derby. As of yesterday—actually, make that early this morning—the 2014 Derby seemed to be one of the most clear-cut in recent memory. My confidence in the combined chances of California Chrome and Hoppertunity ...

Depending on the pace of the race, running out the 10 furlongs of the Kentucky Derby is as much about class as it is about pedigree. As they approach the final furlong marker it is invariably a time where each of the horses start to wonder who their parents are, and if they deserve to find the line in the run to the wire. Alan Porter has noted on ...

You better get your eyes trained on both ends of the field when they spring the latch on Saturday if you want see the cavalry charge of speed horses and stalkers parked down on the inside and also the stone closers on the far outside taking back and trying to get position and save as much ground as possible. That was the odd layout of ...

Yesterday, on April 29, I had the opportunity to watch Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) morning line favorite Untapable have a schooling session in the Churchill Downs paddock. The daughter of Tapit acted cool, calm, and professional as she stood in the schooling stall, and was then led around the paddock walking ...

Photo: Mathea KelleyRed Cadeaux Staying power is defined as having strength and energy, stamina, and toughness—all attributes of one of racing’s highest-profile world travelers: Red Cadeaux.The big, red runner, based in Great Britain with trainer Ed Dunlop, has been in Japan since April 19 preparing for his second bid to win the marathon Tenno ...

With the bad weather breaking, cooling temperatures, and the track wet but packed down, Kentucky Derby horses returned to serious gallops Wednesday morning and were feeling good and anxious to get back in action. Starting things off was California Chrome, who went out at 6:45, jogging once around, working up a mouthful of saliva and champing at ...

By Ed DeRosa Picking a Kentucky Derby favorite is much easier than picking the Kentucky Derby winner, but tabbing his (and 19 others’) off odds is among the more difficult guessing games in the Sport of Kings. Of this I’m certain: California Chrome will be favored and Wicked Strong will be second choice. After that, there are questions: What ...

Mike Maker has been looking forward to working General a Rod since his unexpectedly slow work last week. He has since compensated for the colt’s distractions by galloping him in blinkers, which has made him more focused and aggressive. This morning, again wearing blinkers and with Joel Rosario aboard, the powerfully built colt turned in a ...

When Medal Count showed up at Dale Roman’s barn at Churchill Downs as a promising 2-year-old, the colt was an immediate standout.“After he started training, I thought he was our best horse,” the trainer said. Owner B. Wayne Hughes had also thought enough of the colt by Dynaformer, out of the graded stakes-placed Brisquette (by Unbridled’s Song), ...