BloodHorse.com

By J. Keeler Johnson We’re almost there, folks. The first of the final Kentucky Derby prep races are being held this weekend, namely the $550,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park and the $800,000 Sunland Derby (gr. III) at Sunland Park. These races are going to be particularly important since the winners are ...

A couple of years ago, I wrote the back story of Mine That Bird’s amazing Triple Crown journey. Now, with the motion picture “50-1” having its premiere in Albuquerque, N.M. Wednesday, March 19, I have added to it (and it is quite lengthy) in an effort to tell the entire story as I witnessed it.On April 17, 2009, I received a phone call from Darren ...

The strong start to the 2-year-olds in training season bodes well for the commercial markets throughout the rest of the year.Juvenile racing prospects are at the tail end of the production cycle, where the bloodstock is going to end-users. Strong performances at these sales mean pinhookers will have more money to reinvest, yearling value will be ...

1 California Chrome Art Sherman Lucky Pulpit—Love the Chase, by Not For Love He’s back in light training and just doing maintenance work, and Sherman is just going to play it by ear regarding his next start, saying there is “a chance” he’ll run in the Santa Anita Derby. This is an old school, blue-collar horse with nine starts and a strong ...

With the William Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale (from April 8-10) just over the horizon, it's worth a look at the very eclectic mix of stallions that will be represented here by their first yearlings. It's an unusually mixed bag, including Northern Hemisphere shuttlers, both proven and unproven in their part of the world, as well as ...

As I discussed in varying ways on the Hello Race Fans Derby Prep Alert and Steve Byk’s At The Races Radio Program, I don’t expect a lot of sexy results on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in terms of payoffs, but it will be fun to watch some (future) stars shine at likely low prices. That’s good news for the 82 people still alive for $1-million in the ...

Saturday, Oaklawn, Race 10, Local Post Time 6:04pm CTThe G2 Rebel Stakes, 1 and 1/16 miles, Dirt, 3YOBy Robert Finnegan85 more Kentucky Derby points are on the line in the Grade 2 Rebel, to be run at a mile and 1/16 on the main track. The morning line has this looking like a three-horse race, with Tapiture at 9-5, Strong Mandate at 2-1, Kobe's ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') This Saturday, the road to the Kentucky Derby continues as eight talented three-year-olds attempt to take another major step toward Louisville in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, while across the country at Santa Anita, a wide-open field of older fillies and mares will battle for supremacy ...

There's a big race coming up in Kentucky. I know most of you are thinking about the Kentucky Derby, and you're right, that is a big one. But I'm thinking of another race--a human road race called Run the Bluegrass, which starts at Keeneland in Lexington March 29. Dubbed ''America's Prettiest Half Marathon,'' this race has been built over the ...