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Many skilled handicappers treat pedigree analysis as though it should be left for those whose primary aim is the buying, selling, or breeding of horses. There are countless examples, new and old, of the maddening uncertainty associated with this subject. One hundred years ago, Roamer was the champion three-year-old and is credited with 1914 Horse ...

Welcome to the 2014 Kentucky Derby. There were showers this morning and the forecast is for showers next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I just thought I’d get that out of the way so you can get an early start on your mud handicapping and begin moping over another wet track Derby. So, get it out of your system now and hope the forecast is ...

FRIDAYThe G2 Elkhorn StakesKeeneland, Race 9By Alan MannThe Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes has drawn an overflow field of 14 on Friday's closing day card at Keeneland.  Hangover Kid (10-1) stretches out to a mile and a half after returning from a 105-day layoff to race at a mile and a sixteenth. This somewhat lightly raced (record of 21-6-6-3) ...

By Nicole Sauer Not since Apollo in 1882 has a horse that was unraced at age 2 gone on to win the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The famed ''Curse of Apollo'' will be put to the test once again this year, this time by Rebel Stakes (gr. II) winner Hoppertunity. Many argue that the right horse just hasn't come along yet, and it's only a matter of time ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') This Saturday, racing returns to Churchill Downs with a ten-race program that is highlighted by the $150,000 Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III). In recent years, the Derby Trial has been little more than an enjoyable opening-day feature race, with little to no effect on the Derby itself. But thanks to the presence ...

By Tom LaMarra Last year Keeneland filled seven 2-year-old races during its spring meet. Through April 23 there were two, with two more to come before the meet ends April 25. The 2-year-old races during the 2013 spring meet averaged 9.71 horses per race. The two races run through April 23 averaged 7 horses per race, according to The Jockey Club ...

Last Tuesday afternoon (April 15), I had the privilege of going to Keeneland and visiting Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) hopeful Rosalind at trainer Kenny McPeek's barn. The reason for the visit was to do a video interview with McPeek that will be posted in the next few days on Bloodhorse.com, but while I was there, I was also able to spend a few ...

Mavericks are essential members of any community. They don’t shy from controversy and jump right into the messiest of situations, stirring the witches’ brew to a frothing boil. The bold and brash can do their share of damage, but they’re enemies of the status quo—mold-breakers who force to the surface issues that most in authority would rather ...

1 California Chrome Art Sherman Lucky Pulpit—Love the Chase, by Not For Love Now that the preps are over, we can go over some of the questions pertaining to each horse and what they have to do and prove on May 3. With him, it’s whether he is as effective outside California, especially not having a work over the Churchill Downs track, and how ...