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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 ...

Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas promised “more stories than Mother Goose,” and the four-time Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner—and a panel of five other Derby winners--delivered on that promise at the It’s my Derby evening Friday, April 18 at Keeneland. The fund-raising event for the Kentucky Derby Museum has quickly established ...

“If I can get a cowboy to cry, I’m in good shape.” Jim Wilson, director of ’50-1,’ on audience reaction in the Southwest to the new movie on Mine That Bird’s upset Kentucky Derby win Like most every other racing fan, I have a story about Mine That Bird’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) victory at odds of 50-1. Before ...

The G3 Coolmore Lexington StakesKeeneland, Race 9By Robert Finnegan11 horses are entered in the Grade 3 Coolmore Lexington, to be run at a mile and 1/16 on Polytrack, and what the race lacks in Kentucky Derby implications, it makes up for in chaos. More than half the field  (including the two favorites on the morning line) has never raced on ...