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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Few—if any—Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races have been more productive steppingstones toward the Kentucky Derby than the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Since the turn of the century, Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman If you ask me, Saturday's $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds is ripe for an upset—perhaps an upset of monumental proportions. Seemingly all the requirements are in place to trigger an unexpected outcome. The race has drawn a full field of unpredictable 3-year-olds, with ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman If it seems like trainer Mike Maker wins the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) every time he turns around, that's because—well—he pretty much does. Held at 1 1/8 miles of the synthetic Polytrack at Turfway Park, the Jeff Ruby has carved out its own little niche on the Road to ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby will take a few major turns this Saturday. Three important prep races are on the agenda, all offering 50 qualification points to their respective winners. The $400,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita will be among the most anticipated events of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman No matter how you slice it, Saturday's $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park figures to be a crazy race. As a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep event, the Fountain of Youth offers 50 Kentucky Derby qualification points to the winner. This lofty prize—coupled with ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman It's a quiet weekend on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which means we can turn our attention to a smaller stakes race at Sunland Park. The $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby might not offer qualification points toward the Kentucky Derby, but the 1 1/16-mile race does serve as a local ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds has been growing steadily in popularity and prestige. Case in point? No fewer than 23 horses have been entered in Saturday's edition of the 1 1/8-mile race, prompting Fair Grounds to split the Risen Star into two divisions. The ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman A pair of accomplished 3-year-olds from New York will try their luck in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, but there's no guarantee their proven class will win the day. Joining the fray is a speedy, undefeated colt with the potential to give them a ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Saturday, February 1 is going to be a big day on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Aqueduct is hosting the Withers Stakes (G3) and Santa Anita has the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the agenda, but the highlight of the afternoon might be the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Eight ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Arrogate vs. California Chrome. Gun Runner vs. West Coast. City of Light vs. Accelerate. The first three editions of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park attracted some of the best horses in North America, generating widely-hyped showdowns between champions ...