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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The weekend in between the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Preakness (G1) isn't the busiest one on the U.S. racing calendar, but a solid Saturday of graded stakes action at Aqueduct (racing under the ''Belmont at the Big A'' branding) includes the $400,000 Man o' War (G2) for older ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman I may regret making this declaration, but I feel like Saturday's 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs is shaping up as one of the most straightforward Derbys to handicap in recent years. There's a lot of quality in the overflow field, even after Lexington ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman How fast a pace will we see unfold in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1)? That's a key question handicappers must debate as they search for the most likely winner on the first Saturday in May. The last two years have featured hot fractions favorable to stretch runners. In 2022, UAE Derby ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Barely more than two weeks out from the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), all the prep races have been contested and the field is coming into sharp focus. It's time to analyze the prospective entries and look for live longshots capable of crashing the superfecta at double-digit odds. With ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman One of the best races on the second week of the Keeneland spring meet is Friday's $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1), a one-mile turf test that features a heavy favorite in the form of #4 Master of The Seas (4-5). The credentials of Master of The Seas are impressive. He's won stakes ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a pivotal stop at Keeneland this Saturday for the $1 million Blue Grass (G1). Although the Blue Grass hasn't produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Street Sense in 2007, a strong field has turned out for the 2024 edition, led by two colts who ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman No Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race currently in existence has produced more Kentucky Derby (G1) winners than the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Since 1953, it's churned out 25 Kentucky Derby champs—that's slightly more than one every three years. Since the turn of ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up this Saturday with the running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, a 1 3/16-mile race that awards Kentucky Derby (G1) qualification points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers. Both the winner and the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman With the Road to the Kentucky Derby taking a one-week hiatus before the final round of preps, the graded stakes slate this weekend looks a little light. However, there are two intriguing sprint stakes on the agenda. The $250,000 Whitmore S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park and the $100,000 San ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues this Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Meanwhile at Santa Anita, the $100,000 Santa Ysabel (G3) serves as the latest stop on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Let's take a look at ...